Mayor Khokon sounds alert for chikungunya

Dhaka South Mayor Sayeed Khokon urged city dwellers to clean household bushes and remove stagnated water to prevent chikungunya, a fever caused by aedes mosquitoes.

Mayor Khokon launched an elaborate programme to kill mosquitoes in his zone on Wednesday. He used a fogger to spray mosquito repellents at the Institute of Fine Arts.

“We call on citizens to remain alert against chikungunya to prevent the disease from turning endemic in the city this time,” he said in the presence of ward councillors.

“Clean bushes and water containers from around your houses, where Aedes mosquitoes breed.”

Aedes Aegypti and Aedes Albopictus carry the virus of chikungunya fever that turned endemic at the beginning of monsoon last year.

Different quarters, including Health Minister Mohammed Nasim, blamed the city corporations for failing to resolve the crisis.

Chikungunya belongs to the Togaviridae family of viruses. It is also known as Arbovirus for transmission by mosquitoes.

Dengue and Zika viruses also cause the fever that leads to muscle ache, headache, nausea, and rashes. Joint pain is a key feature of the non-fatal fever that takes long to go away.

Mosquito menace has hit Dhaka as weather is growing warmer with the passing of winter. City dwellers have complained that city corporations are not active enough to address the issue.

Culex mosquitoes that are currently widespread in Dhaka carry fewer risks of diseases, health experts say. But Aedes, the bearer of dengue and chikungunya, may grow by leaps and bounds as untimely rains have swept the city in the last two days, they said.

Amid the mosquito menace, Dhaka South was comparatively in a better shape, Khokon reiterated at the launch of the programme.

“Residents of Dhanmondi, Banasree, Jurain and Kamrangirchar are however suffering.”

“We have deployed our people and equipment to give our best to this programme. The health division is also on the alert. We will spray the repellents in every neighbourhood,” said the mayor.

On an allegation that there’s a lack of coordination between councillors and those who spray repellants, the mayor said: “The ward councillors directly monitor the crew when they are on duty. There is no lack of coordination. If there is any, it will be solved through discussion.”