The dengue situation in the country is deteriorating daily, with a total of 18,000 cases and 65 deaths reported as of July 23 this year. Concerns are mounting as public health experts predict a worsening situation in August and September due to favorable breeding conditions for Aedes mosquitoes facilitated by the ongoing rainfall patterns. Despite claims by the Dhaka city authorities of year-round mosquito eradication efforts and various initiatives, critics argue that these actions are insufficient. The persistent question remains: why do we struggle to control dengue effectively, and are the authorities employing the right strategies to combat this crisis?
Experts in entomology have consistently pointed out that the current approach, which combines mosquito control with dengue control, is ineffective. Targeting Culex mosquitoes in drains, sewers, and stagnant dirty water, where they primarily breed, is not effective in controlling Aedes mosquitoes, which breed in residential areas, office premises, and water collection spots like construction sites. Accessing these breeding sites poses a challenge for mosquito control teams, leading to many overlooked breeding zones. To address this, experts recommend more focused interventions, emphasizing larviciding and eliminating breeding sources over widespread fogging, which has shown limited effectiveness.
Proposals have been made for the city corporations to conduct door-to-door operations in high dengue incidence areas, inspecting households to identify and eliminate Aedes breeding sites and applying larvicide as needed. A system of warnings and penalties for recurrent Aedes larvae findings in residences has also been suggested to enforce compliance. Active involvement from local residents is deemed crucial for the success of these efforts.
A comprehensive year-round strategy is deemed essential, encompassing the elimination of breeding sources, larva destruction, hotspot management, and continuous community engagement. Given that dengue has spread to all districts this year, particular attention is urged for regions outside Dhaka to contain the outbreak and ensure that health facilities are well-equipped to handle patients. The ongoing loss of lives due to dengue is deemed unacceptable, underscoring the urgency for effective and sustained measures to combat the disease.