Jashore has a high prevalence of dengue patients in ten districts of Khulna Division.
Khulna Health Department's Disease Control Branch sources said a total 6021 dengue patients were detected till Wednesday (September 11). Of them, 1957 in Jashore. A total of 6 died in Jashore, while 1,733 dengue patients have returned home after treatment. In this situation, the question arises as to why the number of dengue cases is so high in Jashore region outside Dhaka.
Medical and environmental scientists in Jashore said that the prevalence of dengue attacks has increased locally due to the persistent waterlogging in three upazilas of Jashore, the transit point of communication and the increased access to health services in the district.
Associate Professor of Environmental Sciences at Jashore Science and Technology University Dr. Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman said, “The Aedes mosquito breed is mainly in the Arban area. Originally the capital based Aedes mosque has shifted to Jashore-Khulna. This process has been done especially through vehicles, trains, trucks and passenger buses. Jashore is the transit point of communication. From Kamalapur railway station the train arrives in Jashore and Khulna. Aedes mosquitoes can also be transported with humans in the empty bucket. Due to the transit point, vehicles come from different regions of the country Aedes mosquitoes are bred on the back of the truck where water can accumulate or even the old tires in the garage.’’
Jashore 250 bed General Hospital Superintendent Dr Abul Kalam Azad Litu said the affected patients come from Dhaka to Jashore in the first place. Drainage identified as mosquito breeding ground, lack of cleanliness, lack of effective measures for mosquito breeding - is the cause of dengue patients. Apart from this, patients from Magura, Jhenaidah, Narail and Satkhira also come to Jashore General Hospital or clinics for medical treatment. Infected patients and locals are now suffering from the disease due to the spread of Aedes mosquitoes, he said.
Jashore Civil Surgeon Dr. Dilip Kumar Roy said, due to the permanent waterlogging in three upazilas (Abhaynagar, Manirampur and Keshabpur), the transit point of Jashore area and crowded patients from different districts in hospitals for better medical care, localized dengue patients increased.
He added that another important reason is that the rainfall is stopped slowly. As a result, scattered waterlogging has been created in various places of the district. Heavy rains would not create such an environment. However, the problem is increasing due to the rain stopping. Waterlogging is creating a breeding environment for Aedes mosquitoes.
Assistant Director of the Khulna Health Department (Disease Control), Dr Ferdousi Akhter said, from July 1 to September 11, one thousand 957 dengue affected in Jashore, 203 in Khulna, 229 in Bagerhat, 573 in Satkhira, 385 in Jhenidah, 327 people in Magura,360 in Narail, 829 in Kushtia, 116 in Chuadanga, 170 in Meherpur district.
