Both city corporations of Dhaka have started using newly tested insecticides to kill Aedes mosquitoes, responsible for the recent outbreak of dengue.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) is using deltamethrin insecticide while Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) is using malathion. DSCC began spraying the insecticide yesterday and DNCC since Thursday, according to official sources of the city corporations.

In July, a meeting was held in Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission organised by the two city corporations, where four new insecticides were recommended for killing Aedes mosquitoes.

Based on the decision, the samples of insecticides were brought from abroad. Three different tests were conducted on insecticides -- field test using fogging machine directly on  mosquitoes with the insecticides; effectiveness test of the insecticide to kill mosquitoes from Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control & Research, and chemical test from plant protection wing of Department of Agriculture Extension in Farmgate.

A DSCC official said they got satisfactory results for all tests, so they are using deltamethrin, one of the four recommended insecticides, brought from India. 

On the other hand, DNCC declared the use of malathion insecticide, which was brought from China during a press conference on Thursday at its office in Gulshan-1, where DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam was present.

Issuing a press release, DNCC informed that they will keep exterminating Aedes mosquitoes throughout the year from now on under Integrated Vector Management (IVM) initiative.  

Besides, as part of the two city corporations’ mosquito controlling initiatives, insecticides are sprayed two times a day at different wards of the city.