The ever-worsening dengue situation has yet to show any sign of improvement as the government on Tuesday reported 13 more deaths from the mosquito-borne fever.
Of the total deaths, 11 victims were from Dhaka city. With the new casualties, the death toll crossed 340 in dengue fever, including 269 from Dhaka, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Last year, 281 people died due to dengue, the highest in the history of the country.
Besides, 2,742 new dengue patients were hospitalized in the last 24 hours ending this Tuesday at 8:00 am throughout the country. Of the total, 1,002 were from Dhaka.
The DGHS earlier said that the dengue situation in Dhaka is "stable", although the rate of dengue cases has increased a bit.
Meanwhile, the total dengue cases rose to 72,225. Of the total cases, 37,722 were from Dhaka, added DGHS.
A total of 9,463 people were being treated across the country in hospitals. Of them, 4,482 were from Dhaka. Of the total admitted, 62, 422 patients made recovery and returned home, and of them, 32,971 were from Dhaka.
Meanwhile BSS adds: Health experts Monday laid emphasis on immediate hospitalization as the dengue situation in Bangladesh is getting worse this year as the country witnessed a record number of dengue positive cases and deaths.
"All types of dengue positive cases need immediate hospitalization to reduce dengue-related deaths," Dr M Mushtaq Hussain, adviser of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), told the news agency.
Dengue positive patients have been divided into three categories -- A, B, C -- on the basis of severity of the disease, he said, adding dengue positive patients with stable condition are under A category while moderate severe and critical patients are under category B and C.
The health expert said all dengue patients should ensure admission to hospitals for getting remedy from the mosquito-borne disease.
"In order to ensure hospitalization of all infected people, the authorities should take immediate steps to set up primary and secondary hospitals in Dhaka city," Mushtaq added.
Primary and secondary hospitals at district and upazila levels must be improved with adequate medical facilities for dengue patients, he said, adding "We need more dengue dedicated hospitals both inside and outside Dhaka city to handle the epidemic in the country."
The health experts attributed the highest dengue-related deaths to lack of awareness and late hospitalization as the country already has reported a record number of dengue-related deaths.
"Dengue fatality rate is very high this year as people are not aware enough about the disease . . . late hospitalization is another reason for death caused by dengue," IEDCR Director Prof Dr Tahmina Shirin said.
"We are observing that people are not immediately going to doctors after being affected by dengue fever, which is eventually worsening conditions of patients," she added.
Among the four serotypes of dengue viruses: Den-1, Den-2, Den-3, and Den-4, Tahmina said, Den-2 and Den-3 are more active this year. "In most cases, dengue symptoms are not seen. So, we are suggesting people visit doctors immediately after being affected by fever," she added.
Bangladesh has been grappling to stem dengue outbreak as July was the deadliest month since detection of the mosquito-borne disease in 2000 while experts predicted the dengue situation may deteriorate further in the coming August and September.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), July alone recorded 43,854 dengue positive cases with 204 deaths while 20,393 dengue positive cases were recorded and 89 people died from the disease in the past eight days of August.
Talking to BSS, several entomologists said that dengue by now emerged as an epidemic as it spread all over the country but observed that the concerned agencies, particularly city corporations could not take required steps to annihilate mosquitoes.
Dr Ayesha Akhtar, assistant director of Shyamoli TB Hospital, said, "Dengue was detected in Bangladesh for the first time in 2000 and it has turned into epidemic at the beginning of rainy season this year and the dengue situation will be more severe, if the rising trend continue."
"We have to take preventive steps particularly destroying breeding sources of Aedes mosquito to stop outbreak of dengue disease," she added.
City dwellers must be cautious about stagnant water which is the main source of breeding of Aedes mosquito, Ayesha said, adding that even a small quantity of water can grow Aedes mosquitoes leading to the spread of such deadly disease.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
