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The Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) has launched a month-long special mosquito-control campaign in eight high-risk wards to curb the spread of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases.
The campaign, described as a “crash programme”, began at around 10:30am on Thursday (August 20) in front of St Placid’s School, marking World Mosquito Day.
The eight wards identified as high-risk by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) are Wards 2, 3, 17, 18, 19, 32, 34 and 39, said CCC Acting Chief Executive Officer and Secretary Ashraful Amin.
Under the campaign, additional workers will be deployed to identify and destroy mosquito breeding sites, eliminate Aedes larvae and apply insecticides to control adult mosquitoes.
The city corporation has also assigned 10 magistrates to different zones to conduct regular inspections and drives throughout the month.
Ashraful said legal action would be taken against property owners where dengue-causing mosquito larvae are found. Depending on the circumstances, offenders could face fines or imprisonment.
He said the campaign would focus not only on spraying insecticides but also on destroying breeding grounds and improving cleanliness.
Mosquito breeding sites at construction projects, abandoned plots, stagnant water bodies and other premises will be inspected, with Aedes larvae destroyed where found.
The CCC has also been using Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) for the past five to six months as part of its dengue-control efforts.
According to Ashraful, dengue infections in the city corporation area have declined compared with the same period last year.
“More than 800 dengue patients were recorded in the city corporation area around this time last year. This year, the number is around 550 to 580,” he said.
He added that eight people died of dengue in the same period last year, while no dengue-related deaths have been reported in the CCC area so far this year.