Dengue situation worsening fast, three more die

The dengue situation across the country continues to deteriorate amid alleged inaction from the health and city corporation authorities and a friendly weather condition of intermittent rains that helps breeding of the aedes mosquito.
The anti-dengue campaign has been witnessing a slow pace since the political changeover on August 5. As changes also took place in the administration, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), city and municipality councillors allegedly left their duties half-done, messing up the anti-dengue drive.
The interim government, however, appointed a new administration, which still cannot ensure any major drives against the fast worsening dengue situation.
The DGHS missed the dengue survey this rainy season that had been conducted over the years to determine the dengue situation, mosquito density and subsequent actions.
Furthermore, the intermittent rains for the last few weeks that habitually occur during the rainy season are also helping the mosquito to spread fast amid open breeding space and the larvae to survive more.
The country on Thursday reported three deaths, raising the number of fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease in the country to 122 this year. A total of 887 patients were hospitalised on the day. The total cases stood at 21,966 this year, according to the health authorities.
Kabirul Bashar, a renowned medical entomologist and zoology professor at Jahangirnagar University, said not conducting the rainy season survey this year left all in the dark over determining the real dengue density and taking the right actions.
The entomologist conducted a small-scale survey and research in Barguna, Barishal, Chattogram and Gazipur in July, where he found the Breteau Index (BI) close to 20, showing a higher density of larvae.
He also forecasted then that the dengue situation would be deteriorating with a higher number of infections.
However, it seems that the authorities concerned did not pay any heed to the call, he lamented.
Furthermore, the rains help the larvae survive well and spread the disease fast. Rainwater creates stagnant water-bodies, which are ideal breeding grounds for the dengue larvae, Prof Bashar explained.
Prof Dr. Be-Nazir Ahmed, a public health specialist and former director of the DGHS, suggested conducting an immediate assessment of the country's overall dengue situation, including the disease density, breeding places, larvae and patients.
"As far as Dhaka city is concerned, we need assessment and survey on its water-logged places. We must complete the job in a week. If we do delay in doing it, the number of dengue mosquitoes and patients will jump geometrically," he feared.
"At upazila level we can recruit manpower on a temporary basis to address the manpower crisis. The situation must have to be controlled in rural areas, as the infection gradually increases outside Dhaka."
"Furthermore, as we have dengue patient management issue in the hospitals, so we can arrange training for the new health care staffer," he suggested.
The DGHS officials concerned could not be reached for comments despite repeated attempts.
Meanwhile, the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) recently dissolved the team of experts, formed by its former mayor Atiqul Islam for dengue prevention. The DNCC has taken a week-long campaign and awareness programme from Thursday.
DNCC Chief Executive Officer Khairul Alam blamed climate change for the growing dengue density.
He told the FE that they are not facing any crisis due to absence of the elected representatives or the city councillors after the August 5 changeover.
"Our anti-dengue campaign remains in effect in full swing. We have formed teams in the wards to monitor and conduct necessary drives. The DNCC has a dedicated team to destroy breeding places. We are conducting programmes in collaboration with the IEDCR and the DGHS," he added.
Prof Bashar opined that the reality of climate change cannot be denied, but it has to be dealt with duly to improve the dengue situation.
"We have to take adaptation and mitigation policies in response to the impact of climate change," he suggested.

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