Densely populated Bangladesh boon for infectious diseases

Bangladesh is a very densely populated country. There are 1,350 people living in this country per square kilometer. Whereas in neighboring country India, there are 492 people living in each square kilometer. If we compare it with developed countries like America, Australia, Canada, etc., then we can see that only 38, 3.5 and 4 people live per square kilometer respectively. 

 

Now you can understand how much the density of people and the quality of life of our beloved motherland is developed. Bangladesh is ranked 6th in the world in terms of population density. Malta is in 5th place, Maldives is in 4th place; Similarly, Bahrain, Singapore and Sanco are in 3rd, 2nd and 1st place respectively. Infectious diseases are more common among people living in unclean, polluted environments. Those whose residential status is not that advanced. 

 

Dirty, unclean environments are favorable for germs and germ carriers. The more polluted the environment, the more the outbreak of infectious diseases will increase. Therefore, considering all aspects, it is seen that Bangladesh is very conducive to infectious diseases. Environmental pollution, low quality of life, lack of nutritious food, ignorance of health awareness, lack of standards of food preparation, serving and consumption are leading Bangladesh towards a sanctuary for infectious diseases. On the other hand, the changing environment is also playing a very helpful role in protecting the existence of germs and carriers. 

 

 

In the case of infectious diseases, there is a beautiful and harmonious relationship between the carrier and the environment of the carrier, germs and the host. If the environmental factors are favorable to the carrier, then just as the carrier can easily carry the germ, the germ can also easily replicate itself, increasing the severity of the disease and increasing the death rate. Therefore, it is very important to understand the host-carrier-germ-environment relationship. 

 

Bangladesh is a country of six seasons. In this country, with the change of seasons, environmental factors such as temperature, relative humidity, sunlight intensity, wind speed, etc. is vary. Due to these variations, sometimes the reproduction of the carrier accelerates, and sometimes the rate of infection of the germ increases. Similarly, just as environmental pollution helps in increasing the activity or number of germs, it also greatly reduces the immunity or ability of humans to fight against pathogens.

 

 

Everyone should fully realize this truth and take appropriate measures. In that case, all the stakeholders concerned should fulfill the responsibilities assigned to them responsibly. At the same time, we must increase our awareness and involvement. We must remember that if we cannot protect ourselves from being infected, we will have to suffer a lot. Therefore, in the case of specific infectious diseases, we must follow all the rules and regulations as per the guidelines given by the World Health Organization and prepared based on our own environmental structure. 

 

For example, in the transmission of dengue virus from one person to another, the role of the vector is the main one. Therefore, to protect ourselves from this carrier, we must know about the reproductive process of aedes mosquitoes, i.e. the life cycle or stages of the life cycle. That is, we must have a clear idea about the life cycle and breeding place of the Aedes mosquito. Only if we know the behavior, morphology or external structure of the body, the type of egg laying, the place and the time of contact with the host and sensitivity, etc., will it be possible to control the dengue carrier. Dengue prevention will actually be possible by controlling the dengue carrier. 

 

We know that dengue has now spread from cities to remote areas of villages. The two species of Aedes mosquitoes that carry dengue, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, are now spreading dengue simultaneously. The density of Aedes aegypti in cities and Aedes albopictus in remote areas is increasing significantly with the pre-monsoon and monsoon Aedes mosquitoes of 2024. The presence of Aedes aegypti is especially high and worrying in artificial breeding sites such as coconut palms, flooded floors of under-construction buildings, stagnant water, containers, tires, or water pumps of multi-stored buildings. The density of Aedes albopictus in natural breeding sources such as kachuleaf axile, banana leaf exiles, tree holes, bamboo triumphs, etc. is increasing at an alarming rate. 

 

Similarly, both species continue to carry the dengue virus. That is why it has become very important to determine the density of infected mosquitoes in cities and rural areas. Here is a very important issue. That is how Aedes albopictus living in rural areas is being infected. The issue is very simple. Now the means of communication are very easy, as a result of which the movement of a dengue infected person is very easy, the dengue virus is moving to rural areas very easily. When the blood of this infected person drinks Aedes albopictus, the mosquito will be infected very easily and now dengue will spread in both parallel and vertical directions.

 

Vertical spread, i.e. the spread from one generation to another, is a very natural process. This is further accelerated due to the lack of proper contact tracing. If the real address of the infected patient cannot be completely searched, then the infected mosquito will spread the dengue virus without any hindrance. In this case, as the number of infected patients is increasing, the number of infected mosquitoes is increasing in the same way. The affected area is increasing. 

 

The affected area is increasing. The number of infected mosquito dengue patients is increasing unhindered. In this situation, awareness and coordinated initiatives are needed along with the actual history of the patient. Ensure the participation of all stakeholders in your area on your own responsibility. IPVM i.e. Integrated Pest and Vector Management in combination with IPM and IVM.

 

The way to get rid of the deadly Nipah virus that is taking our precious lives in winter by bats is awareness. Protect raw date juice from bats and refrain from drinking of date juice. Half-eaten fruits by bats should never be eaten. Avoid social festivals including juice festivals. The spread of infectious diseases among the people of our country is not as easy as it can be in developed countries. Therefore, there is no alternative to awareness. As there is an abundance of disease organisms or pathogens, the abundance and activity of carriers is widespread. The spread of water-borne, air-borne, and food-borne infectious diseases is increasing at a rapid rate. Currently, the amount of dust particles in the air pollution across the country, especially in Dhaka city, is not only spreading infectious diseases, but is also playing a leading role in spreading NCDs or non-communicable diseases.

 

COPD, lung cancer, stroke, heart disease, and many other serious diseases. In this, the out-of-pocket expenditure of the people is increasing abnormally. People are getting lost. A study has shown that there are two main reasons for the extreme poverty of the people of Bangladesh. One is litigation, social expenses, and the other is medical expenses. In the changing environment, if we cannot prevent diseases and germs with awareness and unity, then infectious diseases will continue to emerge and re-emerge. Vital lives will continue to be lost. So let's not listen to fear or rumors - let's make ourselves aware - and encourage others to be careful. Let's build a healthy, strong, prosperous country.

 

The writer is a Professor and Head, Department of Entomology, National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine, NIPSOM