The dengue infection is taking a serious turn as the number of infected people has tripled in the last 30 days, compared to the same period last year. According to the recent report of Emergency Operation Center and Control Room of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), in last 24 hours, about 83 people with dengue infection were admitted in different hospitals in the capital whereas 302 people during the previous three days from July 1 to July 3 were treated for dengue infection.
Overall, 1,699 people infected with dengue were admitted at different hospitals in June this year whereas 428 people were infected in June last year. A total of 10,148 people were infected with dengue last year (2018) and 26 of them died. It was a record for the number of dengue cases in a year. The previous highest was 6,232 in 2002.
When contacted, Professor Abul Kalam Azad, Director General of Health Services told Bangladesh Post that the rising figures are not alarming. “We do not worry about the numbers but we worry about a lack of knowledge of the citizens. In fact, concerned about the situation of dengue infection, I met expert doctors today (Thursday) to seek advice on the best possible actions to reduce incidences of the infection,” said Prof Azad.
He strongly advised on testing all fevers cases for suspected dengue. “Only the positive cases should be treated,” he said adding that the season with intermittent rains and hot and humid episodes of weather actually favours the Aedes mosquitoes to breed that infects the dengue virus. “We should not worry as testing is free in all hospitals and ready to treat for dengue,” Prof Azad added.
Experts said climate change affects, intermittent rain, the pattern of weather and lack of cleanliness were the main reasons for this increase in dengue cases.
The communicable diseases wing of the DGHS conducted a survey from March 3 to12 this year. The survey found the high presence of Aedes mosquito in the capital.
The DGHS collected water samples from 998 houses at 100 places under 97 wards of two city corporations in Dhaka. The survey found a high level of larvae of Aedes mosquito in water collected from abandoned tyres, plastic drums, buckets, open tanks in under-construction buildings and flower tubs. According to the survey, the density of mosquito larvae in water was high in wards 35, 1, 4, 19, 20, 16, 22, and 23 of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and wards 41, 12, 17, 4, 39, 6, 7, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 43, 47 and 48 of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).
Dr Sanya Tahmina, line director (communicable disease control) of DGHS, said it is very important to destroy the source of Aedes mosquitoes to reduce the number of patients. Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Chief Health Officer Brig Gen Sharif Ahmed and DNCC Brig Gen Md Mominur Rahman Mamun said they were taking different steps, including building awareness among the people and giving more emphasis on larviciding and adulticiding to keep dengue cases in check.
Besides, DSCC on Monday launched a 15-day crash programme to control mosquito larvae and destroy the breeding grounds of mosquito. On the other hand, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) is building awareness among the people through road show, street songs and distributing leaflets at different places in the capital.
