The outbreak of the Aedes mosquito-borne viral disease is increasing across the country at an alarming rate. Three more dengue patients died in 24 hours till Tuesday morning, raising this year’s death toll from the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh to 99. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has recorded 26,938 dengue cases and 23,612 recoveries so far this year. Reportedly, a total of 3,227 dengue patients, including 2,148 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country. the number of dengue cases soaring every day across the country, hospitals especially those in the capital are struggling to deal with the patients.
It is startling to note that the number of dengue patients is surpassing the capacity of all public hospitals in the capital. However, experts assert that the DGHS data about dengue patients does not give a complete picture of the dengue outbreak as the organisation collects data from only 47 hospitals in Dhaka and many private clinics in Dhaka remain outside its data collection efforts.
The two city corporations should
deploy expert teams to visit dengue-prone
areas in the city and inform people
about how to destroy all potential
mosquito-breeding sites
A new variety of type-3 dengue was found for the first time in Bangladesh in 2020. Considering the changing characteristic of the disease, departments concerned including health experts should look forward to conducting further research and forming a high-profile committee of experts to formulate a guideline to tackle dengue. Also, 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.
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.
The two city corporations should deploy expert teams to visit dengue-prone areas in the city and inform people about how to destroy all potential mosquito-breeding sites. Also, 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.
