Urgent action needed to control dengue

With the arrival of monsoon, dengue turns into a deadly mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh every year. Alongside claiming numerous lives, it severely disrupts the healthcare system. According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), at least five people died from dengue in the 24 hours leading up to 8am on Friday. Among them, four were from Barguna. This marks the highest daily death toll from dengue so far this year. During the same period, 159 new patients were admitted to hospitals, with 124 cases reported from the Barishal division alone.

Without strong government intervention, the situation could spiral further out of control. Dengue is not a new enemy to us. While public awareness has increased and the government has taken various initiatives to combat dengue from time to time, Bangladesh remains trapped in a cycle of annual outbreaks. The prevalence of dengue continues to rise each year. The pressing question is: why is this preventable disease becoming so deadly?

Over the past few days, the media has repeatedly reported on the growing dengue crisis and highlighted its many dimensions. There have been frequent warnings about the urgent need to focus on prevention. Unfortunately, these warnings seem to have fallen on deaf ears. After the fall of the Awami League government, a vacuum in local administrative leadership has emerged, hindering dengue control efforts. However, the continued deterioration of the situation even after appointing new administrators is completely unacceptable. Negligence by the authorities responsible for mosquito control is one of the main reasons behind the growing number of cases and deaths. Additionally, many patients are being infected multiple times, delaying treatment, or struggling to get hospital admission during critical periods—further complicating the crisis.

Experts say that while dengue was once a seasonal illness occurring mostly during the monsoon, it has now turned into a year-round threat. The primary reasons include poor urban planning, unregulated construction, and inadequate waste management. Entomologists have observed that Aedes mosquitoes are now breeding in highly unusual places. In densely populated areas, stagnant water in water jars, pipelines of high-rise buildings, and exposed construction sites are now common breeding grounds for these mosquitoes.

They further point out that although dengue control is a technical issue, the biggest obstacle is the absence of corruption-free and effective governance. Effective mosquito control requires consistent, integrated, and accountable management. Yet, the fact that the situation is once again spiralling out of control this year shows that such ‘good governance’ remains elusive. Dhaka North and South City Corporations have spent nearly Tk 2,000 crore over the past 15 years—but where are the results?

We therefore urge the government to prioritise dengue control as a national emergency. Immediate and effective action must be taken. Numerous precious lives have already been lost due to the incompetence and negligence of the concerned authorities. The government must now go beyond words and act decisively to protect the health and lives of its people.

Citizens, too, must stay vigilant. Every household must ensure that there is no stagnant water in their surroundings. Local communities must actively participate in dengue prevention efforts. Awareness campaigns must be initiated in schools, colleges, and workplaces to ensure that prevention measures reach every corner of society.