Dhaka North prepared to control Culex mosquito: Mayor

Dhaka North City Corporation has already been prepared to control the spread of Culex mosquito, said Mayor Atiqul Islam yesterday. 

It has also scheduled different measures to control the Aedes and other mosquitos, Atiqul said while speaking at a programme at Nagar Bhaban titled "Current initiatives and year-round plans to control mosquito". 

He said, "We have already assigned two entomologists and 10 apprentices in 54 wards of the city corporation to identify the breeding grounds (hotspots) of Culex mosquitos on October 7."

"The entomologists have already identified the areas with a higher number of breeding grounds of Culex mosquitos. We are conducting mosquito control initiatives based on the information obtained," he added.

He further said from now on, ward councillors will be held responsible if they fail to control mosquitos and ensure the cleanliness of their respective areas. 

Entomologist Dr GM Saifur Rahman said that they found seven wards have the highest density of Culex mosquitoes. The wards are 20, 28, 11, 5, 31, 32 and 17.

Dhaka North Chief Health Officer Brig Gen Mominur Rahman Mamun said, "The two-week-long special mosquito controlling crash programme started today."

According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 94,265 dengue patients got hospitalised across the country so far this year. A number of 107 people died from dengue. Experts blamed the failure of Dhaka North and Dhaka South City Corporation for the outbreak of dengue. 

Dr Sanya Tahmina, director (Disease Control) at the DGHS, said, "We have to focus on destroying the breeding ground of Aedes mosquito, as the dengue will now prevail all year long."