A total of 3,122 new dengue cases were reported in 24 hours till Sunday morning, the highest number of patients hospitalized in a day with the mosquito-borne disease this year.
Of the latest cases of hospitalisation, 849 patients were admitted to hospitals within Dhaka city and the remaining 2273 were hospitalised elsewhere in the country.
During the period, eighteen more deaths were reported from the viral fever, raising the fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease to 822 this year, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The DGHS revealed the figures in its daily bulletin.
Of the fatalities, 12 were reported within Dhaka city and the remaining six outside it.
The month of September has already recorded 229 deaths, whereas 342 deaths were reported in August and 204 in July.
Division wise Dhaka -- excluding the capital -- logged 699 hospitalised cases, Mymensingha 98, Chattogram 416, Khulna 318, Rajshahi 195, Rangpur 76, Barishal 458, and Sylhet 13 cases in the 24-hour period.
Meanwhile, UNB report adds: DGHS Additional Director General Professor Dr. Ahmedul Kabir on Sunday said a guideline has been issued suggesting the health officials not to send any dengue patient to Dhaka from outside the capital.
"Compared to Dhaka, more people are now being reported dengue positive outside the capital. We have made arrangements for treatment of dengue patients everywhere outside Dhaka and talked to health officials across the country," he said.
He said these at a press conference held at the conference room of the DGHS.
Ahmedul Kabir said, "Some clinics and hospitals are cheating patients. They are keeping patients at hospitals and keeping them in ICU. Drives will be conducted against these hospitals and clinics and against those hospitals and clinics that are not registered or expired."
Mentioning that there is no shortage of saline, he said, "We are taking steps to ensure that no one can create any artificial crisis. We are importing 3 lakh saline from abroad."
Dr. Ahmedul Kabir said that some unscrupulous businessmen try to take advantage of time. "We have instructed the civil surgeons to take action against them if the price of saline is kept high anywhere."
saif.febd@gmail.com
