TUHIN SHUBHRA ADHIKARY and HELEMUL ALAM

Although the monsoon season is approaching, the health authorities have yet to take any initiative to conduct the pre-monsoon entomological survey that experts say is crucial for identifying mosquito breeding hotspots and preventing a major dengue outbreak.

Until 2024, the Directorate General of Health Services conducted three annual entomological surveys in Dhaka to detect Aedes larvae before, during, and after the monsoon.

The survey findings were shared with the two city corporations to help destroy breeding sites before dengue transmission intensified.

Only the pre-monsoon survey was conducted last year, while no initiative has yet been taken to carry out any survey this year, raising concerns among public health experts and entomologists.

On the other hand, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has carried out a small-scale survey in its areas, but neither have the survey results been revealed nor has any initiative been taken based on them.

Besides, no survey is being conducted in other parts of the country, even though a large number of dengue cases and deaths have been reported there since 2019.

The absence of the survey comes at a time when Bangladesh continues to face the threat of recurring dengue outbreaks, with experts warning that without early identification and destruction of mosquito larvae, the number of dengue patients could rise sharply during the monsoon, putting immense pressure on the healthcare system.

Between January 1 and June 1, the country recorded six dengue deaths, including one on June 1, and 3,307 cases. Last year, 413 people died from dengue, and over 1 lakh were hospitalised.

Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain on Monday said they have taken all-out preparations to face dengue.

Dengue corners are being set up at upazila health centres, he said,

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