By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) in Bangladesh reported this week that the 2019 dengue fever outbreak has topped 90,000 cases. The annual figure never crossed 11,000 since the first dengue outbreak in the country in 2000.
The unofficial number of deaths from dengue is now 158, official numbers reported stand at 81.
Officials are concerned that although the outbreak cases have been decreasing recently, new rains could increase the density of Aedes mosquito, the vector of dengue virus.
Entomologist Manzur Chowdhury, former president of Geological Society of Bangladesh, said, “We have to give emphasis on larviciding as well as cleaning activities round the year to control the mosquitoes.”
Only cleaning is not enough to control the mosquitoes. Cleaning and using insecticides are both very important to control it, he said, adding that the latest pesticides will have to be available so that people can purchase those easily and use those at their houses.
