Mosquito menace beyond control
Vexed by the sudden intensification of the mosquito menace in the capital, the city dwellers have alleged that the menace has gone beyond control in the absence of the usual anti-mosquito drive by the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC).
“The situation has become so alarming that even during the day, anti-mosquito spray needs to be used in business establishments, offices and also in houses,” complained Khadiza Akther, a housewife at Katasur Housing in Mohammadpur area.
She urged the authorities concerned to take special measures to contain the mosquito menace, saying that children, particularly the SSC candidates, are facing problems studying because of severe mosquito attacks.
Describing the mosquito menace as a public health nuisance, Dr Prabhat Chandra Barua, a public health specialist, told the news agency that the city corporation should take immediate measures to reduce the sources of mosquito breeding places, as it can emerge as a big public health concern.
“Mosquito bites during the spring season can increase the number of patients who will come down with various skin diseases, particularly allergy complaints,” he said.
Visiting some DCC areas like Shewrapara, Kazipara, Mirpur, Pallabi, Mohammadpur, Gandaria, Malibagh, Moghbazar, Rampura, Khilgaon, Basabo, Madartek, Uttara and the Dhaka University areas, the correspondent found that the city dwellers in these areas suffer equally from mosquito menace.
When contacted to find the reasons behind the spurt in mosquito menace, the DCC authorities concerned alleged that huge privately owned wetlands in the city corporation areas remain as breeding places for mosquitoes, creating the recent public nuisance.
DCC Chief Health Official Brig Gen Nasir Uddin recently told reporters that though the mosquito eradication drives are carried out, but this year the regular mosquito crash programme was hampered due to shortage of the necessary pesticides.
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