Local Government, Rural Development (LGRD) and Cooperatives Minister Tajul Islam today said the government is taking yearlong programme to prevent dengue disease as the mosquito-borne disease has spread across the country.

"Last year, dengue patients were found in all districts of the country, since the detection of dengue patient for the first time in 2000," he told the first meeting of the National Committee for prevention of mosquito-borne disease in the conference room of Local Government Division (LGD) here.

LGD Secretary Muhammad Ibrahim and senior officials of relevant organizations , among others, were present at the meeting, an official release said.

Tajul said, "We have to take preventive steps particularly destroying breeding sources of Aedes mosquito to stop outbreak of dengue disease,"

He said people's awareness is also a crucial factor in both urban and rural areas to bring the mosquito-borne viral disease under control as the
authorities registered record number of dengue patients last year.

The minister said city dwellers must be cautious about stagnant water which is the main source of breeding of Aedes mosquito.

According to the health experts, a small quantity of water can grow Aedes mosquitoes leading to such deadly disease.

Even if a small quantity of water is left stagnant in any broken pot, tyre, vas or container inside and outside homes and offices, they can be breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes.

Last year, the authorities recorded 1,705 dengue deaths, the highest in a year since dengue was detected in 2000, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) sources said.

The total number of dengue patients stood at 3,21,179, which were also highest figures in a year, the DGHS added.