A SUDDEN increase in dengue cases, especially outside Dhaka, warrants early and effective intervention. Directorate General of Health Services on June 10 reported a record 288 dengue cases, the highest daily tally so far. What is further worrying is the high infection rate outside Dhaka. More than 95 per cent, or 276 out of the 288 reported cases, came from outlying districts. Dengue cases have been reported in almost all parts of the country. Of the cases, the Barishal division reported the highest number of infection, with 261 fresh cases, while the Chattogram division recorded 11 cases, the Dhaka division 13, the Mymensingh division 2 and the Rajshahi division 1. What makes the figure more alarming is that most of the cases have been reported from areas outside city corporations. Most of the cases recorded in the Barishal division have come from Barguna. This year鈥檚 dengue statistics also look more alarming. As of May 31, the country had recorded more than 4,000 cases compared with fewer than 3,000 in the corresponding period of 2024, when dengue claimed 575 lives and infected at least 101,214 people.
The situation could be worse for a couple of reasons. First, with an early onset of the monsoon this year, coupled with high humidity, mosquitoes, including the dengue vector Aedes aegypti, have found a perfect breeding environment. Second, a lack of containment measures is likely to provide favourable breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Residents in Dhaka, other cities and even remote areas complain that the mosquito population has increased significantly and local government authorities hardly spray adulticide and larvicide or destroy breeding grounds. In all major cities, residents complain that insecticide spraying has been noticeably irregular. The situation in small cities and towns is clearly worse. What is unacceptable is that while dengue has become a yearly, or a year-round, threat and while several other countries have successfully contained the menace with comprehensive strategies, the authorities here have done little to make even the measures regular and effective. Besides irregular spraying, there is little research on the effectiveness of the insecticides used. Experts say that city authorities continue to use chemicals to which mosquitoes have already developed resistance. Another major shortcoming in control measures is the lack of attention to mosquito breeding grounds.
If the authorities do not take early and effective measures, the mosquito population will continue to grow in this peak breeding season and the consequent dengue menace will only intensify. The authorities should not, therefore, delay in implementing effective steps to contain the dengue menace and enhance the capacities of healthcare facilities to test and treat the growing number of patients.