Mosquitoes might spread dengue, chikungunya, malaria, filarial, kala-azar and other viral diseases like ZIKA and the West Nile Virus in Bangladesh in future as there is no comprehensive system in place in the country to tackle the vectors, experts said Saturday.
Speaking at a seminar in the capital, they said while the nation is vulnerable to outbreaks of vector-borne diseases its mosquito control programmes are run by different entities under the ministries of health and local government in an uncoordinated manner.
The Centre for Governance Studies organised the seminar on ‘Vector problems in Bangladesh: An integrated approach’ at the BIISS auditorium.
Experts expressed fears that in the coming days Bangladesh could be exposed to severe vector-borne diseases.
They said that the possibility of occurrence of other mosquito-borne diseases like ZIKA and West Nile Virus could not be ruled out.
They said that it was time for the authorities to introduce systematic surveillance for controlling mosquitoes.
In his keynote paper , entomologist and CGS vice-chairman Manjur Ahmed Chowdhury said that an integrated vector management programme was needed to control and stamp out the vectors.
He said that the health ministry was tasked to control malaria and kala-azar, which happen mostly in rural areas, while city authorities have the responsibility to control mosquitoes in urban areas where dengue and chikungunya became causes of concern.
Manjur said communicable disease control wing of Health Services maintains a disease surveillance system bedevilled by lack of coordination among the stakeholders.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University former vice-chancellor Kamrul Hasan Khan said that this year’s unprecedented dengue outbreak exposed the weaknesses of the systems in place.
He said that the information disseminated by the health ministry and city authorities about dengue lacked clarity and, therefore, it confused the citizens.
Zoology professor at Jahangirnagar University Kabirul Bashar said the mosquito control measures were a bit successful finally in the urban areas this year but the situation in the rural areas was very different.
He said that there was no preparation in place to tackle possible outbreaks of ZIKA and West Nile Virus.
icddr,b scientist Shafiul Alam Sujon said that the possibility of ZIKA outbreak could not be ruled out as the aedes mosquito was its carrier too.
World Health Organisation consultant Nur-e-Jannat said 80 per cent of the investment for mosquitoes-borne diseases should be allocated for research and surveillance, but Bangladesh spends the entire fund on anti-mosquito fumigation.
Dhaka South City Corporation chief health officer Sharif Ahmed admitted that there was no coordination between the Health Services and the city corporations about tackling the dengue crisis.
He proposed the creation of a central authority for taking integrated measures against mosquitoes.
Dhaka North City Corporation chief health officer Mominur Rahman Mamun said they were not aware that insecticides were less effective than the larvicides against mosquito breeding.
State minister for information Murad Hasan said a vector control institute could established for carrying out round the year surveillance.
Local government minister Tajul Islam said he was trying to create a vector control cell in his ministry.
News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net