This year, there have been frequent rains during January and April before the start of monsoon. This outbreak comes after a record number of dengue cases last year and an outbreak of chikungunya last winter. Chikungunya is spread by the same mosquito. At least 126 people were infected with dengue between January 1 and April 19, a number of highest since 2000 for the same period, shows data from the Health Directorate.
In Bangladesh, most of the dengue cases are reported during June and October as intermittent rains and high temperature and humidity during the months create the ideal breeding conditions for Aedes. However, the authorities last year saw a new trend of early dengue infection. During January and April 2016, at least 71 dengue cases were reported in the capital. At least 14 of them died. The total number of dengue cases last year was 6,020, the highest since 2002.
Epidemiologists believe early rain could be a reason behind this early dengue cases. The Aedes prefer to breed in clean, stagnant water in containers following rain near households, roadsides ditches and other places. Earlier, the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) recorded 19 cases of chikungunya during the last week of 2016 and the first week of this year.
Dengue and chikungunya have no specific treatment. The treatment is focused on relieving the symptoms, says the World Health Organization (WHO). Dengue, which causes flu-like illness, can be fatal at times. Chikungunya, on the other hand, is not fatal, but causes fever and severe joint pain, muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash. The joint pain may be prolonged to weeks, says WHO.
A survey by DGHS last year found at least one in five homes in the Dhaka South City Corporation had stagnant water in containers with mosquito larvae or pupae. The survey found mosquito larvae or pupae mostly in plastic barrels, buckets, clay pots, used or abandoned tyres, tubes and water tanks.
It is quite simple to think of a remedy for such mosquito borne diseases. At the micro-level households should not keep containers of water uncovered in their houses or allow stagnant water to collect in anyway. The government should spray anti mosquito medicine in a timely fashion to reduce the spread of mosquitoes. The spraying should be done in an effective manner by targeting localities near jheels and lakes and areas like slums where anomalies in water retention are most likely to occur. Proper insecticides should be used, not substandard ones, to ensure effective delivery. These are all tried and tested ways to combat the menace of mosquitoes. There are no other ways to do so.
