Dhaka: Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) on Sunday launched its first-ever pre-monsoon Aedes mosquito larvae survey under its own management to prevent mosquito-borne diseases dengue and chikungunya in the capital. DSCC Administrator Abdus Salam formally inaugurated the survey programme at Buriganga Hall of Nagar Bhaban on Sunday morning.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the 12-day survey involves a total of 2,250 houses, with 30 houses selected from each of DSCC’s 75 wards using a randomised scientific sampling process. The survey is being conducted by 36 field workers from DSCC and the Communicable Disease Control branch of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
To ensure data accuracy, the survey teams are utilizing the digital platform KoboToolbox. The data collected will be analyzed through various indices, including the Breteau Index (BI), House Index (HI), Container Index (CI), and Pupa Index (PI). These analyses aim to identify future dengue hotspots within the city.
During the inauguration ceremony, Abdus Salam emphasized that dengue poses a significant threat to public safety and highlighted the importance of this scientific initiative to protect residents from the escalating risk. He stressed that proper identification of breeding sources is crucial to preventing widespread outbreaks.
Abdus Salam issued a stern warning to the field workers, stating that any negligence in conducting the survey would not be tolerated. He emphasized that submitting false reports without visiting assigned areas is tantamount to endangering human lives.
Following the inauguration, the DSCC Administrator inspected the survey activities at the Central Veterinary Hospital at Fulbaria intersection. The inspection revealed mosquito larvae, stagnant water, and waste on the hospital premises, prompting Salam to express dissatisfaction with the hospital authorities. He instructed immediate corrective actions and ordered the spraying of mosquito control chemicals to eliminate the larvae.
DSCC has assured that regular mosquito control efforts will continue alongside the survey, with immediate actions to be taken in areas identified as having larvae or high-risk environments.