The dengue situation has crossed the acceptable limit much before its season begins in Dhaka city, according to a latest survey of the health directorate.
The density of Aedes mosquito larvae in 18 wards of two city corporations have been found above 20 per cent in the Breteau Index (BI).
The pre-season Aedes Survey-2024 of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) made the disclosures on Tuesday.
Furthermore, Aedes larvae were found in nearly 15 per cent of houses -- 14.30 per cent in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and 14.98 per cent in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).
DGHS director (disease control) Dr Sheikh Daud Adnan presented the findings of the survey at a press conference at the DGHS headquarters in Dhaka.
The pre-monsoon survey was conducted from April 17 to 27 under the National Malaria Elimination and Aedes Transmitted Diseases Control Programme of the DGHS.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh reported one death and six new cases of hospitalisation in the past 24 hours till Tuesday.
The total fatalities due to dengue infection climbed to 35 with more than 2,800 cases of hospitalisation across the country since January 2024, according to the DGHS.
A generally accepted method of measuring the density of Aedes larvae is the 'gross index' criterion, when the larval density exceeds 20 per cent, means the situation out of control.
Eighteen out of 99 wards of the two cities surveyed have a gross index of over 20, meaning over 20 out of 100 containers have either mosquitoes or larvae.
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