With twenty-one more deaths from dengue in 24 hours till Saturday morning, the fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh rose to 618 this year. So far, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has recorded 127,694 dengue cases and 118,444 recoveries this year. Reportedly, Bangladesh now ranks second globally in dengue-related cases and death rate as Brazil recorded 1,187,708 cases and 912 deaths this year.
The number of dengue patients getting admitted into hospitals and death toll of already admitted patients continue to rise. Bangladesh is facing its worst-ever dengue fever outbreak as hospitals are flooded with patients, putting a severe strain on the country’s already overwhelmed medical system.
Despite the government's visible preventive measures, the numbers of cases and fatalities from dengue fever are rising day by day. It is worth mentioning that in terms of both dengue deaths and hospitalisations, this year broke all previous records.
According to experts, the behaviour pattern of Aedes mosquitoes has changed as they bite people throughout the day and night, and can remain active in artificial light outside, which is playing a vital role in dengue infection. According to Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), people are being infected mostly with dengue variant (DEN-2) this year. Analysing a limited number of samples it has been found that 62 per cent of the patients have been infected with dengue variant DEN-2. Experts are of the opinion that mortality risks become higher if a previous patient of the disease is infected with a different variant. However, early detection and immediate hospitalisation can help lower the risks significantly.
The government should deploy expert teams
to visit
dengue-prone areas and inform
people about how to destroy all potential
mosquito-
breeding sites
All organisations, including city corporations, municipalities, and union parishads should play a proactive role in controlling Aedes mosquitoes. Dengue mosquitoes thrive in areas with stagnant water in puddles, water tanks, containers and old tyres. Hence, at the household level, people need to be aware of these issues, and keep their houses clean.
The best way to prevent the disease from spreading in settlements is to remove waterlogged areas, keep the settlements always clean and properly dump bio-degradable garbage away from human settlements and use insecticide-treated mosquito nets. These are not difficult tasks. Proper hygiene and sanitation can help prevent the transmission of dengue virus.
In order to control Aedes mosquitoes, devising an integrated initiative, especially involving locals has become the need of the hour. If city authorities do not devise necessary measures immediately to control Aedes mosquitoes, there might be a surge in the number of dengue patients.
Proper directives should be provided to the hospitals in case of encountering any dengue cases as in both dengue and coronavirus cases the symptom of fever is common. The government should deploy expert teams to visit dengue-prone areas and inform people about how to destroy all potential mosquito-breeding sites.
