We are concerned about the rising dengue cases across the country as the monsoon begins to set in. According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 20 people have died from dengue so far this year (as of Friday morning), while 2,586 others have been hospitalised. The situation may further deteriorate in the coming months, with persistent rainfall and thunderstorms forecast by the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. Reportedly, there has already been a sharp rise in the Breteau Index (BI), a measure of Aedes mosquito density, across the country. The BI value was over 10 in April, compared to less than 10 on average last year. Experts have warned that if this trend continues, the BI could exceed 20 in June, which is alarming. Thus, the government needs to take early measures to prevent another deadly outbreak this year.

Read more

We must improve dengue management

Reportedly, the government's dengue control measures were largely inadequate last year due to a lack of leadership and manpower in local government bodies following the fall of the Awami League government in August. But since we now have administrators in both DNCC and DSCC, as well as other cities and municipalities, we hope they will take organised measures before it is too late. Moreover, since dengue has already spread across the country, with cases outside Dhaka steadily rising, special focus needs to be given to other districts. Experts have suggested forming dedicated mosquito control units nationwide and establishing a specialised department comprising entomologists and epidemiologists to effectively address the heightened dengue risk this year. The government, therefore, should consider their suggestions and develop a year-long dengue control plan involving local communities. Additionally, the DGHS must conduct its regular dengue surveys to identify hotspots. At the same time, our hospitals and healthcare facilities—particularly those outside Dhaka—must be adequately prepared to treat the increasing number of dengue patients.

Read more

Integrated Aedes management could help Bangladesh fight dengue

Since preventive measures are key to avoiding a major outbreak this year, the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives must urgently issue directives to its departments to control the spread of Aedes mosquitoes. Managing breeding grounds and controlling larvae should be our primary focus now. To this end, the authorities must immediately launch cleanliness drives across the country while also conducting regular fogging. They should establish a mechanism to inspect various construction sites, which are potential breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes. Moreover, regular awareness campaigns must be conducted to inform citizens about the dengue threat. Timely interventions are essential to prevent a situation similar to 2023, when 1,705 people lost their lives to this preventable disease.