By Dr. Muhammad Mahtab Hossain Mazed

World Mosquito Day is observed every year on 20 August. In 1897, British physician and scientist Sir Ronald Ross proved that mosquitoes could transmit malaria parasites to humans. His historic discovery marked a new chapter in modern public health, particularly in the prevention and control of mosquito-borne diseases. Therefore, World Mosquito Day is not merely a day of remembrance; it is an important occasion to raise awareness about mosquito-borne diseases, strengthen prevention efforts, and remind individuals, communities and governments of their shared responsibility.Although mosquitoes are tiny insects, their threat to public health is enormous. Diseases such as dengue, malaria, chikungunya, lymphatic filariasis, Japanese encephalitis and Zika can have serious consequences for human health and life. These diseases can cause not only death but also prolonged illness, reduced productivity, increased healthcare costs and additional financial and social pressure on families and communities.
Why Are Mosquitoes So Dangerous?
Mosquitoes do not always cause disease by themselves. They acquire pathogens from infected humans or animals and transmit them to other people through subsequent bites. The mosquito species responsible for transmission varies depending on the disease.
Several factors contribute to the spread of mosquitoes:
Standing water: Buckets, drums, flowerpots, saucers beneath pots, discarded tyres, bottles, plastic containers and stagnant water at construction sites can provide ideal breeding places.Warm and humid weather: Changes in temperature, rainfall and humidity can influence mosquito breeding, survival and distribution.
Poor drainage and urbanization: Unplanned urban development, waterlogging, stagnant water at construction sites and inadequate waste management can create favourable breeding conditions.
Lack of awareness: Allowing water to remain stagnant around homes, leaving water containers uncovered and failing to clean them regularly can facilitate mosquito breeding.
Dengue Situation in Bangladesh in 2026
Dengue has become one of the major mosquito-borne public health concerns in Bangladesh. The risk generally increases during and after the monsoon when the population of Aedes mosquitoes can increase.
According to data from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), up to 14 August 2026, a total of 22,936 people had been hospitalized with dengue in Bangladesh and 67 deaths had been reported during the year. In the 24 hours preceding 14 August alone, 693 new dengue patients were hospitalized and two deaths were reported.
In Chattogram, up to 14 August, 1,195 dengue patients had been identified and three deaths had been reported during the year. Higher risks of Aedes mosquito breeding have also been identified in several wards of Chattogram City Corporation.
Past statistics are also concerning. In 2023, Bangladesh recorded 321,179 dengue hospitalizations and 1,705 deaths. Therefore, there is no scope for taking the current dengue situation in 2026 lightly.
Major Mosquito-Borne Diseases: Vectors, Symptoms and Complications
Dengue
Dengue virus is primarily transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. Aedes mosquitoes can bite during the daytime and commonly breed in small collections of water around human dwellings.
Common symptoms include:
Sudden fever
Headache
Pain behind the eyes
Muscle and joint pain
Weakness
Nausea or vomiting
Sometimes skin rash
Warning signs of severe dengue include:
Severe abdominal pain
Persistent vomiting
Unusual bleeding
Extreme weakness
Restlessness or unusual drowsiness
Difficulty breathing
Rapid deterioration of the patient's condition
Severe dengue can cause serious complications, including bleeding, dangerously low blood pressure, shock and impairment of vital organs. Without timely medical care, it can be fatal.
Anyone suspected of having dengue should seek medical advice. Adequate fluids and rest are important, and fever-reducing treatment should be taken according to medical advice. Self-medication should be avoided.
Chikungunya
Chikungunya is also transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes.
Symptoms include:
Sudden fever
Severe joint pain
Headache
Muscle pain
Weakness
Sometimes skin rash
In many patients, severe joint pain may persist for weeks or months, affecting mobility and everyday activities. There is currently no specific antiviral treatment for chikungunya; management is generally focused on relieving symptoms and providing supportive care.
Malaria
Malaria is mainly transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes. In Bangladesh, the disease is particularly prevalent in certain hilly and border areas.
Symptoms include:
Fever
Chills
Headache
Sweating
Weakness
General feeling of illness
Delayed treatment can lead to severe malaria, affecting the brain, kidneys, liver and other vital organs. Severe anemia and other life-threatening complications can also occur. Early testing and appropriate treatment are essential.
According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 282 million people were infected with malaria worldwide in 2024, with approximately 610,000 deaths.
Lymphatic Filariasis
Lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, is a parasitic disease transmitted by certain species of mosquitoes.
Symptoms and effects may include:
Damage to the lymphatic system
Abnormal swelling of the limbs or other body parts
Long-term changes in affected areas
The disease can result in long-term physical disability, difficulty moving, reduced productivity and significant social and psychological consequences.
Japanese Encephalitis
Japanese encephalitis is generally transmitted by Culex mosquitoes.
Symptoms may include:
Fever
Headache
Vomiting
Changes in behaviour
Seizures
Neurological problems
Severe disease can cause inflammation of the brain, long-term neurological disability, paralysis and death.
Eliminating Breeding Sites Is the Most Effective Prevention
Mosquito control cannot depend solely on fogging. Eliminating mosquito eggs and larvae from breeding sites is one of the most important components of sustainable mosquito control.
“One Day a Week, 10 Minutes” Mosquito Inspection
At least once a week, every household should spend around 10 minutes checking indoor and outdoor areas for potential mosquito breeding sites.
Check flowerpots, saucers beneath pots, buckets, drums, discarded tyres, bottles, rooftops, construction materials, abandoned containers and other places where water may accumulate.
Simply pouring out the water may not always be sufficient. Containers should also be scrubbed and cleaned because mosquito eggs can remain attached to their surfaces.
Personal Protection
Because Aedes mosquitoes can bite during the daytime, using a mosquito net only at night is not enough.
When going outdoors, people should cover as much of the body as practical, use mosquito screens on doors and windows, and use approved mosquito repellents when appropriate. Children, older adults and people who are already ill should receive particular attention.
It is also important to protect dengue patients from mosquito bites. A mosquito that bites an infected person can potentially transmit the virus to another person. Therefore, dengue patients should be protected from mosquito exposure, including by using mosquito nets where appropriate.
Larval Control Alongside Fogging
Fogging may help reduce adult mosquitoes, but if eggs and larvae continue to develop, new mosquitoes will keep emerging.
Therefore, mosquito control should combine:
Identification and elimination of breeding sites
Larval control where appropriate
Scientifically guided mosquito surveillance
Targeted adult mosquito control, including fogging when justified
City corporations and local administrations should conduct regular larval surveys, identify high-risk areas, eliminate breeding sites and evaluate the effectiveness of mosquito-control activities.
When Should Medical Care Be Sought?
Not every fever is dengue, but dengue should not be dismissed as an ordinary fever either. Anyone with fever should seek medical advice and undergo appropriate testing and treatment when recommended.
Urgent medical attention is particularly important when fever is accompanied by:
Severe abdominal pain
Persistent vomiting
Unusual bleeding
Extreme weakness
Difficulty breathing
Unusual drowsiness
Restlessness
Rapid deterioration of the patient's condition
In malaria-risk areas, anyone developing fever should be tested promptly because the early symptoms of malaria can resemble those of other febrile illnesses.
Climate Change and Urbanization: Emerging Challenges
Climate change, uncontrolled urbanization, overcrowding, inadequate drainage, waterlogging and poor waste management are making mosquito-borne disease control increasingly difficult.
In the future, it will not be enough to act only after patients begin appearing in large numbers. Pre-season preparedness must become a priority.
Mosquito-density monitoring, regular larval surveys, identification of high-risk areas, disease surveillance, hospital preparedness and rapid access to appropriate treatment should all be incorporated into an integrated plan.
Responsibilities of Individuals, Communities and the State
Mosquito-borne diseases can be controlled effectively only when three levels work together.
At the individual level
Keep homes and surrounding areas clean.
Remove stagnant water.
Keep water-storage containers covered.
Use mosquito nets where appropriate.
Protect yourself from mosquito bites.
At the community level
Neighbourhoods, schools, madrasas, markets, offices and construction sites should organize regular cleaning activities. Potential mosquito breeding sites should be identified and removed promptly.
At the government level
Authorities should strengthen:
Scientific mosquito surveillance
Larval control
Appropriate fogging
Drainage and waste-management systems
Training of healthcare workers
Hospital preparedness
Public awareness campaigns
Homeopathic Management
Mosquito-borne diseases are an important public health concern. Dengue, malaria, chikungunya and other infections can spread through mosquito bites. During and after the monsoon, increased mosquito breeding can raise the risk of these diseases. Prevention through environmental cleanliness, elimination of breeding sites, personal protection and timely medical care remains essential.
One of the commonly stated principles of homeopathy is “treat the patient, not merely the disease.” In homeopathic practice, practitioners may consider the patient's overall physical and mental characteristics, the nature of fever, pain, weakness, thirst, sweating and other individual symptoms when selecting a remedy.
Homeopathic literature traditionally includes medicines such as Eupatorium perfoliatum, Gelsemium, Bryonia, Rhus toxicodendron, Belladonna, China officinalis, Arsenicum album, Nux vomica, Phosphorus, Aconitum napellus, Ferrum phosphoricum, Arnica montana, Pulsatilla, Kali carbonicum, Lycopodium, Sulphur, Carbo vegetabilis, Chamomilla, Argentum nitricum and Sepia for various symptom patterns.
However, these medicines should not be regarded as universally appropriate treatments for dengue, malaria, chikungunya or other serious infections. Even within homeopathic practice, individualized selection is emphasized. Therefore, these names should be viewed only as a general list from homeopathic literature, not as a substitute for diagnosis or evidence-based medical treatment.
Homeopathy and Safe Medical Care
Anyone considering homeopathy for symptom-based supportive care should do so only after consulting a qualified healthcare professional.
Most importantly, when dengue, malaria or another serious infection is suspected, diagnosis, appropriate testing and medical supervision must take priority.
If warning signs such as severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding, difficulty breathing, extreme weakness, unusual drowsiness or restlessness occur in a suspected dengue patient, immediate hospital care is essential. No complementary treatment should delay necessary medical treatment.
Our Commitment Should Be:
We will inspect our surroundings for mosquito breeding sites at least once a week.
We will not allow unnecessary water to accumulate in containers.
We will keep water-storage containers covered.
We will remove discarded tyres, bottles and plastic containers.
We will regularly inspect rooftops, balconies and flowerpots.
We will protect ourselves from Aedes mosquito bites during the daytime as well.
We will protect dengue patients from mosquito bites.
We will seek medical advice instead of taking medicines on our own when fever develops.
We will seek urgent medical care if serious warning signs appear.
We will participate in cleanliness campaigns at schools, madrasas, offices and workplaces.
We will cooperate with local authorities in mosquito-control activities.
We will share verified health information rather than spreading rumours on social media.
Conclusion
World Mosquito Day reminds us that the fight against mosquito-borne diseases is not the responsibility of hospitals and doctors alone. It is a shared responsibility involving every family, community and citizen.
The dengue situation in Bangladesh in 2026 is an important warning. The country's past experience and the growing number of patients this year demonstrate that seasonal and temporary measures are not enough. A year-round, coordinated and scientifically planned mosquito-control programme is essential.
Mosquito control cannot depend solely on insecticides or fogging. What is needed is a combination of clean surroundings, elimination of stagnant water, regular surveillance, personal protection, early diagnosis, appropriate treatment and effective government action.
Therefore, on World Mosquito Day, let our commitment be clear: we will not allow stagnant water to accumulate, we will eliminate mosquito breeding sites, we will protect ourselves from mosquito bites and we will encourage others to do the same.
A mosquito may be tiny, but the responsibility to fight mosquito-borne diseases is far from small. A vigilant family, a clean neighbourhood and a responsible state can work together to reduce the burden of mosquito-borne diseases and build a healthier society.

Author:

Columnist and Researcher
Founder Chairman,Jatiya rogi Kalyan Society
Email: drmazed96@gmail.com