RECORD increase in Culex mosquito population by next month will hurt the city dwellers if proper measures to contain the blood-suckling insects are not taken by the two Dhaka City Corporations. At least two recent surveys – one by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and the other by a team of researchers from Jahangirnagar University found that the mosquito population density in the capital is likely to multiply in the next two weeks. In the meantime, people in different parts of the city keep complaining about mosquito nuisance. Besides, City Corporation drives against the insects appear to have become lax after the City Corporation elections on February 1.
Several water bodies in the city are virtually breeding grounds of mosquitoes, but the authorities concerned have not taken any steps to clean those. The city authorities have no technical experts, no adequate trained manpower to combat the mosquito menace. People in Pallabi, Sutrapur, Mohammadpur, Mirbagh, Kamrangirchar, Manda, Sonir Akhra, Dhonia, Jurain and several other areas expressed their concern over the mosquito bites. Entomologists said that the number of Culex mosquitoes, which spread diseases like filariasis and avian malaria, has gone out of control in Dhaka. Lack of effective measures by the two City Corporations and the absence of proper logistics are mainly to blame for the situation. Sprays cannot reach the stagnant water beneath the covered manholes, which then becomes ideal breeding grounds for Culex. If City Corporations do not start taking effective measures now, the increasing trend in mosquito population density will continue until a nor’wester hits the capital. The storm naturally kills Culex mosquitoes and reduces their number.
In a recent survey, the DGHS has found more than 200 mosquito larvae in samples of 500ml of water taken from most swamps, drains, and stagnant waterbodies in areas under the two City Corporations. Jahangirnagar University’s entomologist Kabirul Bashar has been conducting similar surveys on the capital’s waterbodies under a three-year project. Rise in temperatures from mid-February is leading to increases in organic matter in waterbodies, which provides food and a conducive breeding environment to mosquitoes. Existing larvae will mature in the next 15 days. The situation will turn dire, unless larvicide is sprayed.
The City Authorities should prevent the upcoming menace as the experts warn of dire mosquito population breeding. The small insect is the deadliest insect and it can cause many diseases. The City Corporation must start their drive against mosquito.
