Experts warn Aedes changes behaviour

Reza Mahmud :
Mosquito born disease dengue infection has increased sharply this year. The data of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) showed dengue infection has increased five times since January 1 to May 31 this year comparing to same period of the last year.
As many as 334 dengue patients were admitted to different hospitals in the country during the past 24 hours till 8 am on Tuesday. During the time a total of 5,564 patients were infected by dengue and 4,290 patients were recovered after taking treatment in different hospitals, the DGHS data said.

As of Tuesday since January last a total of 36 deaths from dengue disease were recorded while last year’s total death figure was 269.
Experts said that four reasons are behind the increasing trend of the dengue infections. They are peoples’ negligence of destroying stagnant water, changing behavours of Aedes, the mosquito responsible for dengue infection, development works in the capital which creating small bodies of stagnant water in many

places and intermittent rains occurred frequently and creating stagnant water.
They said earlier, Aedes mosquito was breeding only in clean water but now its laervas are found even in dirty water bodies.
Besides, earlier it used to bite in day time but now it bites in night also.
The DGHS issued comprehensive instructions on prevention due to increasing trend of the fever.
Experts laid emphasis on taking adequate preventive measures instead of giving importance only on expansion of medical facilities to contain outbreak of dengue disease in the country.
When contacted, Professor Dr. Muzaherul Haque, former Adviser of World Health Organisation (WHO) told The New Nation, “Dengue spreads from mosquitoes to people. It is more common in tropical and subtropical climates where stagnant water is present during monsoon and after.”
“In severe cases it needs hospitalisation otherwise it can be managed at home. If you can save yourself from mosquito bite it can be easily prevented and avoided. If infected, try to early management to save lives,” he suggested.
Contacted, Dr. Mukhlesuz Zaman Hero, former Deputy Director of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital told The New Nation, “Intermittent rain created stagnant water everywhere in the capital and responsible for spreading the diseases alarmingly.”
He suggested using every preventive measure to be safe.
Prof Dr Tahmina Shirin, Director of The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) said, “We have to take preventive steps particularly destroying breeding sources of Aedes mosquito to stop outbreak of dengue disease.”
She also suggested all to keep surrounding clean from possible mosquito breeding hub and keeping preventive measures to be safe from mosquito bites.
According to the DGHS, dengue cases showed some symptoms including 104 degrees body temperature, severe headache, pain behind eyes, pain in body muscles and joints, frequent vomiting, nasal gland swelling and body rash.
Suspected dengue patients with 104 degrees body temperature should visit doctors immediately, it advised.
Experts also said, flower tubs, plastic pots, abandoned tires, plastic drums, clay pots, buckets, tin buckets, tin shells or coconut garlands, containers, mats, battery cells should be kept clean as Aedes mosquitoes lay their eggs on those particles.
Unused water containers must be destroyed or kept upside down to prevent water from accumulating and mosquito nets must be used during sleeping time in the day and night.
Chief Executive Officer of the DSCC Mizanur Rahman has given directives to the designated executive magistrates on various issues of controlling dengue disease.
“Destroying breeding ground of the Aedes mosquito is a proven method of controlling the disease,” he said.
Mobile courts will be conducted within the purview of legal regulations to destroy the breeding sources of Aedes mosquito, he added.