A pre-monsoon survey has revealed that 63 out of 75 wards in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) are at risk of dengue, with the density of Aedes mosquitoes exceeding threshold levels.
Of these, 27 wards have been identified as being at high risk, leading DSCC to announce a five-day special ‘crash programme’ starting on 7 June to contain the spread.
The findings were presented on Thursday at Nagar Bhaban auditorium during a session titled ‘Presentation of Pre-Monsoon Aedes Larvae Survey Results and Action Plan to Prevent Aedes-borne Dengue and Chikungunya in DSCC Areas’.
DSCC Administrator Md Abdus Salam attended the event as chief guest.
Survey findings and building vulnerability
The survey, conducted from 12 to 23 May, sampled 2,250 houses across all 75 wards using Kobo Toolbox.
A team of 36 field workers from DSCC and Communicable Disease Control (CDC) wing of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) carried out the inspection.
Of the 2,238 houses inspected, Aedes larvae and pupae were found in 281.
The highest concentration of larvae was detected in high-rise buildings (35.23%), followed by independent houses (27.76%), buildings under construction (17.44%), and semi-pucca houses (14.59%).
Analysis of breeding sites showed larvae in stagnant water on floors (12.26%), buckets (10.34%), and plastic drums (8.89%).
Ward-wise risk analysis
The survey categorised the risk levels across five zones –
Zone 1: Wards 15, 17, 20, and 21 are high-risk; Ward 19 is medium-risk; and Wards 16 and 18 are low-risk.
Zone 2: Wards 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 11, and 13 are high-risk; Wards 1, 3, 10, and 12 are medium-risk; and Ward 8 is low-risk.
Zone 3: This zone contains the highest number of high-risk wards, including 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 55, 56, and 57. Wards 14, 22, and 29 are medium-risk, while Ward 27 is low-risk.
Zone 4: Wards 32, 36, and 38 are high-risk, while Wards 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 42, and 43 are medium-risk.
Zone 5: Wards 7 and 52 are high-risk. Medium-risk wards include 39, 40, 44, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, and 53, while Wards 41, 48, and 54 are low-risk.
Citizen responsibility
Addressing the event, Abdus Salam emphasised that government efforts alone are insufficient to control dengue.
He urged citizens to ensure that clean water does not remain stagnant for more than one day.
“The problem is often in our own bathrooms,” the administrator noted, pointing out that water left in buckets for three days becomes a breeding ground for larvae.
He cautioned that many are unknowingly running ‘mosquito farms’ inside their homes and then blaming City Corporation for the infestation.
To raise awareness, a rally will be held on 6 June at Rabindra Sarobar in Dhanmondi. Following this, the health and waste management departments will execute the five-day crash programme in the 27 high-risk wards starting 7 June, conducting door-to-door inspections to destroy breeding sites.
A similar five-day operation will follow in the 36 medium-risk wards the following week.
Infrastructure and medical preparedness
The DSCC has identified 33 waterlogging hotspots and formed special 10-member teams to ensure rapid drainage after rainfall.
The administrator said while water previously remained stagnant for days, the target is now to clear it within one to two hours using newly acquired pumps and long-term projects.
Regarding medical readiness, DSCC is coordinating with the Ministry of Health to ensure hospitals reserve at least 10% of their beds for dengue patients, with provisions for free treatment.
Addressing the discrepancy in patient data between DGHS and City Corporation, DSCC Chief Health Officer Dr Nishat explained that patients from across the country often seek treatment in major Dhaka hospitals.
These patients are initially recorded under the city’s tally before their permanent addresses are verified at the field level, leading to differences in reported figures.
