First dengue case in Kushtia district

KUSHTIA, July 10 (UNB): The first confirmed case of dengue fever was reported from the district on Wednesday.

Doctors at the Kushtia General Hospital said blood tests confirmed that Ismail Hossain, 21, son of late Idris Ali in Baliapara village under Sadar upazila, was infected with dengue.

He had been suffering from fever for the last nine days but was hospitalised on Sunday with high fever.

Medicine specialist of the hospital ASM Musa Kabir said Ismail's mother, who has been suffering from fever for the last few days, is suspected to be infected but they are yet to get her test results.

Health Minister Zahid Maleque and Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokon on Tuesday said that the infection rate of dengue is higher this year.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection. It is estimated that about half of the world's population is now at risk, according to the WHO.

Dengue viruses spread to people through bite of infected Aedes mosquito.