Ctg city corporation launches month-long dengue control drive in 8 high-risk wards

The Chattogram City Corporation today (20 August) launched a month-long special mosquito-control drive in eight high-risk wards of the city to curb dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases.

The "crash programme" began around 10:30am in front of St Placid's School on the occasion of World Mosquito Day.

The eight wards identified as high-risk by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) are Wards 2, 3, 17, 18, 19, 32, 34 and 39, said corporation's Acting Chief Executive Officer and Secretary Ashraful Amin.

As part of the drive, additional manpower will be deployed to identify and destroy mosquito breeding sites, eliminate Aedes larvae and apply insecticides to control adult mosquitoes, he said.

The city corporation has also assigned 10 magistrates to different zones to conduct regular drives throughout the month.

Legal action will be taken against people found to have dengue-causing mosquito larvae on their premises, Ashraful said, adding that fines and imprisonment may be imposed where applicable.

The drive will focus not only on insecticide application but also on eliminating breeding grounds and ensuring cleanliness, he said.

Aedes larvae will be identified and destroyed at construction sites, abandoned plots, stagnant water bodies and other premises, Ashraful added.

The CCC has been using Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) for the past five to six months as part of its dengue-control efforts, he mentioned.

As a result, the number of dengue patients has declined compared with the same period last year, Ashraful claimed.

"More than 800 dengue patients were recorded in the city corporation area around this time last year. This year, the number is around 550 to 580. While eight people died of dengue in the same period last year, no dengue-related deaths have been recorded in the city corporation area so far this year," he added.