DSCC launches 12-day Aedes mosquito larvae survey across 75 wards

The Dhaka South City Corporation has launched a 12-day rainy-season survey of Aedes mosquito larvae to identify breeding grounds and high-risk areas as part of its dengue prevention efforts.

The survey began today (27 September) and will continue until 8 October. Dhaka South Administrator Freedom Fighter Md Abdus Salam formally inaugurated the survey at Nagar Bhaban today.

Under the initiative, data are being collected from 2,250 households, with 30 randomly selected households from each of the Dhaka South's 75 wards.

The survey will identify areas with higher Aedes mosquito prevalence and the major sources of larvae across the city corporation's 10 zones.

A total of 72 field workers from the DSCC and the Directorate General of Health Services' Communicable Disease Control unit are participating in the survey. The KoboToolbox application is being used for data collection and storage.

Following the survey, the authorities will determine the Breteau Index (BI), House Index (HI), Container Index (CI) and Pupal Index (PI).

Based on the BI, areas with a score of 20 or above will be classified as high-risk, those scoring 10 to 19 as moderately high-risk, and those below 10 as lower-risk areas.

The findings will be used to intensify mosquito-control activities in identified hotspots, including cleanliness drives, larvicide application and special crash programmes.

Speaking at the inauguration, DSCC Administrator Md Abdus Salam said scientific identification of Aedes breeding grounds and high-risk areas was essential for effective dengue control.

"The survey will provide an accurate picture of the current situation in DSCC, based on which we will take effective measures," he said.

He said an earlier pre-monsoon survey had identified stagnant water in and around residential premises as a major source of Aedes breeding.

He urged residents to keep rooftops, balconies, construction sites and surrounding areas free of stagnant water.

The previous pre-monsoon survey found larval density above the prescribed index in 63 of the DSCC's 75 wards, with 27 wards identified as highly vulnerable. The DSCC subsequently conducted crash programmes in those areas.

DSCC Chief Executive Officer Md Khaibar Rahman, Secretary Md Mashiur Rahman Khan, Chief Waste Management Officer Air Commodore Md Mahbubur Rahman Talukder and Chief Health Officer Dr Jahane Ferdous Binte Rahman, among other senior officials, attended the inauguration.