ARUN BIKASH DEY

A recent survey by the Directorate General of Health Services has found an alarmingly high density of Aedes mosquito larvae in Chattogram City Corporation areas, raising the risk of dengue and chikungunya outbreaks in the port city.

The 11-day survey, conducted from June 8 to June 18 during the first phase of the monsoon, covered 18 of the city’s 41 wards.

Inspectors found Aedes larvae in 99 of the 370 households surveyed and 114 of the 345 water containers examined.

According to the survey, all three key entomological indicators exceeded accepted safety thresholds.

The container index stood at 33.04 percent, more than three times the high-risk threshold of 10 percent. Chattogram Civil Surgeon Jahangir Alam said a CI above 10 percent indicates a high risk of dengue transmission.

The house index, which measures the proportion of houses infested with larvae, was 26.76 percent, against the recommended level of below 5 percent.

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