Govt's preventive steps help keep dengue situation under control

Due to various steps taken by the government, the dengue situation this year is significantly under control compared to last year.

Before the onset of the monsoon, preventive activities were intensified nationwide this year in coordination with the Ministry of Health, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Local Government Division, city corporations and local administration to prevent the spread of Aedes mosquitoes.

According to the DGHS data, the number of people infected with dengue and the death toll from the disease are much lower this year compared to 2025. Till August 13 last year, the number of dengue patients was 25,324 and the death toll was 104. Meanwhile, till August 13 this year, 22,243 people have been infected with dengue and 65 have died.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has informed that awareness campaigns through Baul songs, one-day cleanliness drive a week, community meetings, yard meetings and various public awareness programmes are going on across the country to prevent dengue.

In addition, 'Dengue Corners' have been launched at upazila health complexes. Training of doctors and nurses, preparation of field hospitals, collection of reagents and testing kits, and stockpiling of necessary medicines and oral saline have also been ensured.

The ministry has also ordered free dengue tests in all government hospitals in the country until December.

Seven city corporations of the country, including Dhaka North and South City Corporations, have taken to the field with advance preparations to combat this mosquito-borne disease. They are implementing separate programmes to address the risk of dengue in their respective areas.

For the first time, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has conducted a 'Pre-Monsoon Aedes Mosquito Larva Survey' under its own management. On the other hand, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has conducted an exceptional campaign based on tunes and music to increase public awareness about dengue prevention.

Regarding the government preparations to prevent dengue and chikungunya, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain said the government has taken all-out preparations to check dengue before the start of the monsoon.

As a result, he said, the dengue situation this year is significantly under control compared to last year. "However, there is no room for self-satisfaction."

The health minister said the local administration, including the ministry, DGHS divisional directors, civil surgeons, deputy commissioners, upazila nirbahi officers and upazila health and family planning officers, are working in a coordinated manner to control dengue.

Cleanliness drives, drain cleaning and mosquito control activities have been strengthened across the country, he said, adding that these activities are being carried out regularly in all city corporations and municipalities of the country.

Stating that there is no alternative to public awareness in preventing dengue, Sakhawat Husain said health workers often do not get the opportunity to go to homes and inspect potential Aedes mosquito breeding grounds.

So, he said, it is everyone's responsibility to keep their homes and surroundings clean and not allow water to accumulate anywhere and stressed collective efforts to prevent dengue.