If the authorities concerned do not take preventive measures beforehand, mosquito-borne diseases like dengue might hit the country at the time of another pandemic- COVID-19, warned a noted entomologist.
The already pandemic-hit health system will not be able to deal with another seasonal disease if dengue fever coincides and hits like last year.
More than 100,000 people were hospitalised and 179 died last year being infected with dengue fever.
He said current weather and temperature coupled with infrequent monsoon rain are the perfect time for breeding of Aedes- responsible for spread of dengue fever.
He added the city corporations and the government's departments are now busy tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.
"But still they have to take time and act now to prevent dengue before it is too late," entomologist and Professor of Zoology at Jahangirnagar University Dr Kabirul Bashar told The Financial Express.
According to update from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), five dengue patients are now being treated at hospitals in the capital and one at a district hospital.
Since the beginning of this year, 289 dengue cases have been reported. Of the total, 283 patients have been discharged from hospitals.
However, no new dengue patients were hospitalised in 24 hours till 8am on Friday.
Two patients were admitted to hospitals on Thursday.
Bangladesh experienced a massive dengue outbreak last year, which, the government confirmed, claimed lives of 179 people.
Though, the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) confirmed the number after reviewing 263 out of 266 reports of dengue-related deaths.
But informal reports say a much higher number of patients died from dengue last year.
Last year, according to government account, 101,354 people were hospitalised with dengue in the country. Of them, 101,037 made full recovery.
Mr Bashar said there is no proof that Aedes mosquito carries coronavirus.
But it is still alarming if two diseases hit the country at the same time.
He said there are many sources of Aedes breeding as there were some records of monsoon rains in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country.
Prof Bashar said one female Aedes mosquito lays 100 to 150 eggs at a time, which take two to three days to become larva.
The next stage is pupa that takes seven to ten days, and then a pupa becomes an adult mosquito in two to three days.
He said Aedes is weaker than other mosquito species. Only female Aedes bites people, because it needs blood protein for egg maturation and development.
But, it can bite only four to five people and infect with dengue virus in its 21-day lifespan, he added.
Last year during dengue outbreak, Dr B N Nagpal, senior entomologist of WHO Southeast Asia region, said the "source detection" of Aedes mosquito breeding is the key to curb dengue fever.
"It can breed even in 2ml water," he said, showing a cap of a water bottle.
He dismissed fogging as a "myth" while talking to journalists in Dhaka.
"Fogging on the street and open areas is a myth. Clean your own house and spray aerosol in the morning and evening because Aedes rests inside the house," he said in a special briefing organised by the health department, DGHS.
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