Aedes mosquito larvae have been found in 60 per cent of households in Dhaka during a survey conducted to identify dengue breeding grounds, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Md Abdus Salam said on Monday.
Speaking at a press conference at the Nagar Bhaban auditorium after an emergency coordination meeting on mosquito control, he said spraying insecticides alone would not be enough to contain dengue unless people actively participate in preventing mosquito breeding.
“Eighty per cent of dengue prevention depends on public awareness,” Salam said, stressing that cleanliness is the main defence against the disease.
He urged residents to keep their homes, rooftops, yards and surrounding areas clean to prevent water stagnation and eliminate breeding sites.
AC units, construction sites under scanner
The DSCC administrator said field inspections found that air conditioning units in many large buildings were creating mosquito breeding grounds as water discharged through pipes often accumulated on streets.
“I use an air conditioner and enjoy the cool air, but the discharged water remains in one place. Whose responsibility is that?” he said, adding that mosquito larvae can develop if stagnant water remains for three to four days.
He also identified under-construction buildings as major breeding sites, saying many such structures lack proper drainage or systems for removing accumulated water despite significant investment in construction.
“Mosquitoes do not choose whom to bite. They can bite the owner of the building too,” Salam said.
DSCC launches special programme
To tackle the rising dengue cases, DSCC will conduct a special crash programme every Saturday for the next two months.
Under the initiative, cleaning campaigns, removal of stagnant water and anti-mosquito drives will be carried out simultaneously across different areas of the city.
Salam said preventing dengue requires joint efforts from residents and the city corporation. He also urged media outlets to regularly promote the message: “The way to survive dengue is cleanliness.”
