Public involvement, integrated initiatives urgent to prevent dengue: experts
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DHAKA, Aug 19, 2026 (BSS) – Public health experts have said public involvement and coordinated initiatives are essential to check dengue, an Aedes mosquito-borne disease.
They said it is never possible for the government alone to prevent dengue without increasing public awareness.
Public-private monitoring, management and awareness among commoners can play a vital role in controlling dengue, they said.
The experts said civil society, media and the general people must work together to address dengue.
Besides, they stressed taking the right plan and implementing it to prevent dengue outbreak.
Public health expert Dr Mushtaq Hossain told BSS that all the relevant institutions must work together to prevent the dengue outbreak.
“Community involvement is very important in preventing dengue. Without public involvement and coordinated initiatives, it is almost impossible to combat Aedes mosquito-borne dengue,” he said.
Explaining the nature of dengue disease, he said it is important to set up testing booths in various places in Dhaka and other cities to quickly identify dengue.
Dr Mushtaq advised patients to go to doctor immediately if dengue symptoms appear.
He also urged the city corporations to create sufficient number of volunteers to manage the dengue situation properly.
Kabirul Bashar, a zoology professor at Jahangirnagar University, said Aedes mosquitoes are usually seen in residential areas.
“The breeding grounds of Aedes mosquitoes are located inside and outside the houses. Its management method is different from other species of mosquitoes,” he said.
So, he said, understanding the breeding nature and life cycle of Aedes mosquitoes is very important to take effective measures to combat the dengue outbreak.
Stating that a year-round monitoring system will be launched to destroy the potential breeding grounds of Aedes mosquitoes, Prof Kabirul Bashar said, “We need to appoint health workers who will be responsible for monitoring a specific number of houses in specific areas of Dhaka city throughout the year.”
According to the data of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 24,848 people have been admitted to the hospital due to dengue till August 17 this year. Of them, 23,024 recovered and returned home. A total of 71 people died of dengue this year.
Of the deceased, 60.6 percent was women and 39.4 percent was men. Of the total deceased dengue patients, 33 were in Dhaka division, while six in Mymensingh division, five in Chattogram division, 16 in Khulna division, one each in Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions, eight in Barishal division and one in Sylhet division.
