But the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) is yet to take any effective measure to prevent spread of the killer disease.

A study titled " Aedes Larval Survey in Dhaka " conducted in the city from August to October last year revealed that nearly 50 per cent of the people did not know that Aedes mosquito which carries dengue germ breeds in containers with water.

Dr Mohammed Arshaf Uddin, Chief Health Officer of DCC, when contacted yesterday said they have already launched a dengue awareness campaign.

The study had identified 45 DCC wards out of the 90 as favourable breeding grounds for Aedes mosquito.

Experts fear that the rate of dengue infection may be higher this year than last year's. When the on-going intermittent shower will stop, stagnant water may cause outbreak of dengue this year earlier. Last year, dengue broke out in the city in July and continued till December.

Aedes mosquito lays eggs in clean stagnant water.

According to a government estimate, 98 people died of dengue fever last year. Unofficial estimates put the figure at nearly 200.

In its budget for 2000-2001 financial year, DCC allocated Tk 13 crore for mosquito control. Announcing the budget, Mayor Mohammad Hanif had said that mosquito control would be among DCC's four prioritised programmes.

Meanwhile, a 40-year- woman was admitted to Central Hospital with dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) yesterday.

A six-year-old boy was admitted to Sishu Hospital earlier as a suspected dengue patient.

Two other dengue patients were admitted to the same hospital earlier. One of them has been released and the other is improving, doctors there said.

Two other dengue patients were admitted to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital and another at the Red Crescent Holy Family Hospital last one week.