Dengue spreading in villages by Albopictus mosquitoes

Dengue spreading in villages by Albopictus mosquitoes

Hospitals across Bangladesh are at breaking point with hundreds being admitted every day with dengue. The number of patients is rising alarmingly with this being the worst outbreak to hit the country.

Hospitals across Bangladesh are at breaking point with hundreds being admitted every day with dengue. The number of patients is rising alarmingly with this being the worst outbreak to hit the country.

The incidence of dengue has grown noticeably around the country in recent months. According to DGHS, the current statistic of hospitalization due to dengue cases shows the sharp increase in the number of cases reported in recent days.

Outside Dhaka, the largest number of patients was in Khulna. This confirms that Dengue is more prevalent outside the capital. Specialists say that Dengue virus carrying Aedes Albopictus mosquitoes had spread well beyond the capital all along. The Albopictus variety has become a carrier from this year after taking the virus from people affected by Dengue from Aedes Egypti mosquitoes.

Experts now stress eliminating Aedes Albopictus mosquitos as a top priority.

While the number of people affected by Dengue has fallen in the city, outside Dhaka there is a rise in the number of patients.

The Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) is working out why there are more Dengue patients outside the capital.

Specialists say that since most awareness and anti Dengue programmes were adopted in Dhaka , due importance was not given to the prevalence of Aedes Albopictus mosquitoes elsewhere.

The Director of disease control of the health ministry, Dr Sania Tahmina, says: “Steps need to be taken outside Dhaka too.”

Dr Mirzadi Sebrina of IEDCR, says that in the villages Dengue is carried by Albopictus.

Former director of IEDCR, Dr. Mahmudur Rahman, said: “Mosquitoes were here all along but they were not detected. Albopictus grows in areas where water is blocked and even in bushes.”

A countrywide programme was urgently needed, he said.