Poor sanitation in Bangladesh’s Rohingya camps breeding dengue mosquitos
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) – Cases of dengue fever, a virus spread by mosquitos, are on the rise in Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh’s southeastern coastal district.
Bangladesh is currently hosting about 1.2 million Rohingya, the majority of whom fled a brutal military crackdown in Myanmar’s Rakhine state in August 2017.
An average of seven to eight people live in a 120-square-foot room in a house with a poor sewer system, making the camp a breeding ground for mosquitos, particularly those carrying the dengue virus.
Dengue fever outbreaks are common during the rainy season in many places across the country, notably Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar, due to humid conditions.
According to Health Ministry data, nearly 10,000 Rohingya were infected with the dengue virus until mid-August of this year, with seven deaths. This disease killed 105 people last year and infected 28,429 more.
Some health experts say the origin and prevalence of dengue fever are increasing due to accumulated water in various areas of the camp, and that collective efforts are required to bring the situation under control.
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