Chittagong city is overrun by mosquitoes, no medicine is working

❐ BD Digest Desk

Shahriar Kamal, an officer of a private bank, lives in a rented house in Hamzarbagh, Chittagong city. Since both husband and wife are working, they spend most of their time outside during the day. Even when they return home tired in the evening, they find no relief. Because of a small problem called mosquitoes.

They are unable to get rid of mosquitoes even by keeping doors and windows closed or using aerosols.

An annoyed and angry Shahriar said that while keeping the doors and windows closed during the winter provided some relief, the situation is becoming more difficult now that the heat is rising. He has to open the windows for air, but he is already worried about how to deal with the mosquito infestation.

Not only Hamzarbagh, the same picture is seen almost everywhere in Chittagong city. From residential areas, office areas, roads, side streets to shopping malls, the mosquito problem has increased everywhere. Mosquitoes have taken over the entire city of Chittagong.

City residents complain that the City Corporation’s activities to control mosquitoes at such times are not adequate.

However, city corporation officials say otherwise. They claim that there is no negligence in killing mosquitoes. Regular spraying of pesticides is being done and initiatives have been taken to purchase 30,000 liters of adulticide. A special campaign has already started since March 14.

According to experts, three types of mosquitoes are commonly seen in the country—Culex, Aedes, and Anopheles. Of these, Culex is the most prevalent. Although Aedes mosquitoes carry dengue and Anopheles malaria, the incidence of dengue is relatively low at this time of year. So far this year, 93 people have been infected with dengue and one has died.

According to city corporation sources, two types of pesticides are being used to control mosquitoes: adulticide and larvicide. Deltamethrin is currently being used as an adulticide, and there are plans to use malathion in the future. In addition, since December last year, a modern larvicide called BTI has been used, which is effective in destroying mosquito larvae.

However, the question arises – why is the mosquito infestation not decreasing despite all these initiatives?

In this regard, Captain Ikhtiar Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, Chief Sanitation Officer of the City Corporation, said, “Mosquitoes can become resistant due to the use of the same medicine for a long time. The medicine currently used has been used for three to four years, and as a result, its effectiveness is expected to decrease. For this reason, initiatives will be taken to test the medicine and change it if necessary.”

On the other hand, a major shortcoming in mosquito control activities is the lack of updated surveys. No new surveys have been conducted to determine which areas have high mosquito density. The eradication activities are being conducted based on old data.

Although various studies have identified some hotspots in the city, the City Corporation does not have complete information about them.

A previous study by a research team from Chittagong University also found that long-term use of the same pesticide can lead to genetic changes in mosquitoes that can develop resistance.

Researchers emphasized alternative methods, such as using herbal ingredients and keeping drains and water bodies clean, in addition to chemicals. But most of these recommendations have not been implemented, it is alleged.

As a result, the situation has become such that even standing in many places in the city is being attacked by swarms of mosquitoes. Those concerned believe that this problem will not be solved without effective and coordinated initiatives.