Editorial

Dhaka is once again in the grip of the life-endangering disease known as dengue, widely known to be caused by bites of a particular variety of mosquito that prefers to breed in the urban environs. A recent report shows that about 40 dengue afflicted patients, mostly reporting with haemorrhage fever, are getting admitted every day in the hospitals and clinics in the city. The only consoling part of the news is that death from dengue has been minimal so far this year compared to that last year and health experts believe this was possible because of wider awareness among the common people about the disease. It is also encouraging to note that because of better knowledge and information families in the cities are being able to detect dengue-like symptoms and reporting to the physicians at the very outset. There is better management of fever at home as well, which is helping to contain the fever.

But we feel there is still no room for complacency on the part of the city fathers as the prevailing horrendous condition of city environment might cause the number of mosquitoes to rise alarmingly towards the later part of the current month and debilitate a large number of people with their deadly sting.

No doubt wide-scale health education will help prevent and contain dengue. Thanks to persistent media coverage last year, common people came to know about the existence of the species of mosquito called Aedes Egyptic and the harm its bite can cause. But despite continued reporting, concerned agencies failed to undertake any effective long-term measure towards eradicating the Aedes variety of mosquito from the cities and towns. This is a programme where the government should rope in all organisations, groups and individuals. Mere speeches and some photo sessions with defective fogging machines to control mosquitoes will not serve the purpose.