Integrated vector management to curb dengue

Dengue, the fast spreading mosquito-borne disease, has been ranked by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the top 10 global public health threats. It has spread to 129 countries, with 400 million annual infections and 40,000 deaths. In Bangladesh, the growing dengue infection has already overwhelmed the hospitals in Dhaka city. Patients are seen receiving treatment on the floors and verandas of government-run hospitals. Medicine crisis, including saline and fluid, affected the patients most, which have already forced the authorities concerned to allow imports of some medicines.
With the number of hospital admission averaging in the range of 2,000-3,000 and the number of deaths caused by dengue remain more than 10 every day in recent times. According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) reports, the peak season of dengue is usually from August to October every year. Dhaka sees the highest number of deaths and infections every year. The DGHS identifies a total of 11 dengue hotspots in the capital. Six of those areas are under the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and the rest under the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC). The DSCC areas are Jatrabari, Mugda, Kodomtoli, Jurain, Dhanmondi, and Basabo while the five DNCC areas are Uttara, Mohammadpur, Mirpur, Tejgaon, and Badda. If effective steps are taken to kill mosquitoes of these hotspots, there will definitely be lower infection rates.
Studies have revealed that symptoms of dengue infection is changing, with an increasing trend of gastrointestinal symptoms (such as vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea), while symptoms of bleeding and joint pain are decreasing. Worryingly, Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) has increased by up to 10 times in recent outbreaks. It looks like dengue is tending to become a more severe illness in Bangladesh, with young adults and children being affected more. Dengue is a viral infection transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes but there is no specific treatment for dengue. The WHO has recently termed Bangladesh's dengue situation endemic and suggested swift measures, including entomological surveillance. The agency says that Integrated Vector Management should be strengthened to remove the potential breeding sites, reduce the vector population and minimise individual exposure. This should involve vector control strategies for larvae and adults.

Shafiul Kayes,
shafiulkayes@gmail.com