Mosquito population to multiply in 15 days

The mosquito population density in Dhaka city will multiply within 15 days, as a change of seasons is creating suitable environment for their breeding, researchers said yesterday.

In its latest survey, a team of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) also found presence of Aedes mosquitoes in 12 percent wards of Dhaka South City Corporation and in 10 percent wards of Dhaka North City Corporation.

Prof AK Azad, director general of DGHS, published the survey at his office.

They found the density of Culex mosquito larvae to be 200 in every 500ml water in different parts of the city, he said.

Culex mosquito accounts for 95 percent of the population while five percent are Aedes mosquitos, according to researchers.

"As temperature has started rising from mid-February, this is high time for mosquito breeding. Existing larva will grow to maturity in the next 15 days. The situation would turn dire, unless larvicide is not sprayed," said Kabirul Bashar, lead researcher of the team and a professor of Jahangirnagar University.

Prof AK Azad said, "The situation has slightly improved. There was no post-monsoon survey in 2018. Mosquito presence is lower than in 2017 -- in terms of mosquito presence, risky zones, etc."

Stressing the need to destroy mosquito breeding grounds, he said, "If there is no accumulated water, there will be no larvae. Only spraying larvicide will bring no effect unless citizens are not aware."