Noman Mosharef :
Though the number of dengue patients has decreased in the capital, such cases continue to rise in different districts outside Dhaka, raising fresh concern over prevention of the mosquito-borne disease.
Experts attributed to the rising number of dengue patients outside the capital to inappropriate dengue prevention efforts.
They said, Aedes aegypt, a mosquito species is responsible for dengue outbreak in Dhaka or urban areas. But, Aedes albopictus, another mosquito species, is responsible for spreading dengue virus in districts and rural areas outside Dhaka.
A total of 5,921 cases were reported across the country in the last five days, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Of them 3,176 cases were reported outside the capital and 2,725 cases in Dhaka.
On Friday 1,025 new patients were hospitalised across the country in 24 hours.
Among them, 465 patients were admitted in Dhaka, and 640 in districts outside Dhaka. “The density of Aedes albopictus is high in rural areas and so, we think it is spreading the disease. But, we do not have any research yet,” Dr Kabirul Basher, a professor of Zoology at Jahangirnagar University, told The New Nation on Friday.
He, however, said that such mosquitoes do not bite inside the house but only outside.
Dr Basher, an entomologist, further said that Aedes albopictus mosquito has some characteristics. Such mosquito do not live indoors, they live in outdoors. And that’s why it bites people when they get out.
“Most people do not know where the Aedes albopictus is born. Like Aedes aegypti, it does not breed anywhere. The biggest source of Aedes albopictus is the hole of trees where natural water containers are being made from rainwater to breed the mosquito species. And so, its control is a little more difficult,” said Dr Basher.
“An intensive awareness programme should be launched in the district upazila and union level and the field level administrations should conduct workshops to destroy breeding grounds of Aedes albopictus.
If such steps can be taken in all the districts, prevention of dengue will be much easier,” he said.
A total of 5,921 cases were reported across the country in the last five days, according to the DGHS.
Of them 3,176 cases were reported outside the capital and 2,725 cases in Dhaka.
On Friday 1,025 new patients were hospitalised across the country in 24 hours.
Among them, 465 patients were admitted in Dhaka, and 640 in districts outside Dhaka.
Two more people died of dengue across the country on Friday.
Munni Begum, 52, wife of Md Ali Ashraf, from Kholamora village in Keraniganj upazila of Dhaka, died of dengue at Dhaka Medical College on Friday morning.
Munni’s son Md Imran Hossain said his mother was admitted to DMCH on Wednesday after they found out she was suffering from dengue.
In-charge of DMCH Police Outpost Md Bachchu Mia said they have handed over Munni’s body to her family.
Besides, a child named Runa, 4, died of the disease at Dhaka Shishu Hospital.
DGHS data showed that a total of 69,435 dengue patients had been hospitalised since January 1. Of them, 64,558 were discharged after recovery.
At present, 4,697 people are being treated for dengue – 2,610 of them in Dhaka alone.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection causing a severe flu-like illness and, sometimes causing a potentially lethal complication called severe dengue.
