Combating mosquito menace

It is heartening to note that Dhaka's two city corporations have embarked upon a special larviciding and fogging activity in a move to prevent outbreak of any mosquito-borne diseases, especially chikungunya and dengue, in this monsoon. The mosquito prevention drives have been undertaken keeping in mind last years' sudden spread of chikungunya in the capital. Larviciding is an ecologically safe preventive method used to interrupt the development of larvae or pupa into adult mosquitoes. According to the ministry of health, a total of 13,176 people had clinically been confirmed chikungunya patients in 18 districts of the country from the onset of the outbreak between April 1 and Sept 7 last year.

Mosquito menace has become a global problem in recent times. The enormity of the problem becomes so severe some times that it causes a lot of alarm. Mosquitoes breed everywhere in the country including the capital city Dhaka. There is no dearth of places filled with garbage and other things for mosquitoes to breed in their thousands. There was a time when the authorities concerned would undertake mosquito eradication programme from time to time much to the relief of the inhabitants of towns and cities. Unfortunately these days this kind of programame is hardly noticed. Absence of mosquito control programme is taking its toll on the citizens.  

Chikungunya is spread by female Aedes mosquitoes that bite during the daytime. The virus is transmitted from human to human by the bites of infected female mosquitoes. Dengue is another disease that is caused from the bites of mosquitoes. The persons infected with chikungunya and Dengue suffer a lot.

The sources of mosquito breeding should be identified and destroyed immediately. Garbage and trash piled up here and there should be cleaned to halt breeding of mosquitoes. Bushes in different places also contribute to the rise in mosquito population. It is the responsibility of all concerned to keep places around them neat and clean.

There is an allegation that although the government sanctioned adequate budgetary allocation to prevent the mosquito menace in the capital in the past, there was no major visible headway in this connection as the number of patients in different health centres and hospitals were increasing day by day. The health ministry cannot avoid the responsibilities. The situation has been unchanged since the outbreak of this mosquito-borne disease. There should be transparency and accountability in the works done. Creation of massive awareness can help a lot in this regard.

 

Combating mosquito menace

It is heartening to note that Dhakas two city corporations have embarked upon a special larviciding and fogging activity in a move to prevent outbreak of any mosquito-borne diseases, especially chikungunya and dengue, in this monsoon. The mosquito prevention drives have been undertaken keeping in mind last years sudden spread of chikungunya in the capital. Larviciding is an ecologically safe preventive method used to interrupt the development of larvae or pupa into adult mosquitoes. According to the ministry of health, a total of 13,176 people had clinically been confirmed chikungunya patients in 18 districts of the country from the onset of the outbreak between April 1 and Sept 7 last year. Mosquito menace has become a global problem in recent times. The enormity of the problem becomes so severe some times that it causes a lot of alarm. Mosquitoes breed everywhere in the country including the capital city Dhaka. There is no dearth of places filled with garbage and other things for mosquitoes to breed in their thousands. There was a time when the authorities concerned would undertake mosquito eradication programme from time to time much to the relief of the inhabitants of towns and cities. Unfortunately these days this kind of programame is hardly noticed. Absence of mosquito control programme is taking its toll on the citizens. Chikungunya is spread by female Aedes mosquitoes that bite during the daytime. The virus is transmitted from human to human by the bites of infected female mosquitoes. Dengue is another disease that is caused from the bites of mosquitoes. The persons infected with chikungunya and Dengue suffer a lot. The sources of mosquito breeding should be identified and destroyed immediately. Garbage and trash piled up here and there should be cleaned to halt breeding of mosquitoes. Bushes in different places also contribute to the rise in mosquito population. It is the responsibility of all concerned to keep places around them neat and clean. There is an allegation that although the government sanctioned adequate budgetary allocation to prevent the mosquito menace in the capital in the past, there was no major visible headway in this connection as the number of patients in different health centres and hospitals were increasing day by day. The health ministry cannot avoid the responsibilities. The situation has been unchanged since the outbreak of this mosquito-borne disease. There should be transparency and accountability in the works done. Creation of massive awareness can help a lot in this regard.