The Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) on Monday launched a 12-day monsoon survey of Aedes mosquito larvae to identify breeding grounds and dengue-prone areas and strengthen data-driven mosquito control efforts.
DSCC Administrator and Liberation War veteran Md Abdus Salam formally inaugurated the survey at Nagar Bhaban on Monday.
The survey began on September 27 and will continue until October 8. Under the initiative, 30 randomly selected households in each of the DSCC’s 75 wards, 2,250 households in total, are being surveyed using scientific methods.
The survey aims to identify mosquito hotspots and major breeding sources across the city corporation’s 10 zones.
A total of 72 field workers from the DSCC and the Directorate General of Health Services’ Communicable Disease Control unit are taking part in the survey.
The KoboToolbox application is being used to ensure accurate and transparent data collection.
The collected data will be analysed to determine the Breteau Index (BI), House Index (HI), Container Index (CI) and Pupa Index (PI).
Based on the Breteau Index, areas will be classified as high risk (BI 20 or above), moderate risk (BI 10–19), or low risk (BI below 10).
The DSCC will then intensify mosquito-control measures in identified hotspots, including cleaning drives, larvicide application and special crash programmes.
Speaking at the inauguration, Abdus Salam said scientific identification of Aedes breeding grounds and high-risk areas was essential for effective dengue control.
“This survey will provide an accurate picture of the current situation in DSCC areas, based on which we will take effective measures,” he said.
He also urged residents to help prevent Aedes breeding by keeping rooftops, balconies, construction sites and surrounding areas free of stagnant water.
“Aedes mosquitoes can be controlled only when citizens join hands with the city corporation,” he added.
Earlier, a pre-monsoon survey found larval density above the prescribed threshold in 63 of the DSCC’s 75 wards, while 27 wards were classified as highly vulnerable. Based on those findings, the city corporation conducted crash programmes in the affected areas.
