The number of Dengue patients at the hospitals in Dhaka has risen and of the 500 patients admitted, a large portion consists of children. While Dengue is on the rise, many families in the city create small green spaces in their apartments which may be eco-friendly, though lack of awareness of breeding areas of mosquitoes can make such green areas the spawning ground for Dengue.

There has to be an alert eye on the water given to plants. Water cannot be allowed to stagnate.

Last year, 10,148 people were affected by Dengue of which 26 died. As per the director general of the health department, from May till 23 June, 295 people have been diagnosed with Dengue.

“We get a lot of children affected with Dengue and after talking to their parents, we find that Aedes mosquitoes have been festering in their homes for some-time, mostly in stagnant water,” child specialist Rakibul Islam said.

Specialist of Green Savers, Ahsan Rony, observes: “If one is conscious then trees can be kept inside the room; if tubs are kept on the balcony then rainwater can accumulate in it, which needs to be flushed out.”

Water changed within seven days does not create the environment for mosquitoes to lay eggs, he added.

“If one cannot keep an eye on stagnant water then it’s better not to keep plants in the room or the balcony.”