Dengue situation in the country has remained a constant threat this year. However, the recent rainfall and cold weather may further worsen the situation.
Almost 100 people have already lost their lives to the mosquito borne disease since January. More than 670 patients are currently undergoing treatment in different public and private hospitals.
Due to the constant rainfall, breeding grounds of dengue are likely to increase. Stagnant water in many parts of the city due to the rainfall may appear as such breeding grounds.
Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control And Research (IEDCR) Director Professor Tahmina Shirin told the Bangladesh Post, “The threat of dengue should never be underestimated.”
“Changes in weather like this can cause sudden increase of dengue cases. It is important that both authorities concerned and the common people should be alert and they deal with the situation properly,” she added.
City dwellers expressed their concern regarding a possibility of increase in dengue cases. Dengue prevention campaigns were held by the authorities. However, the people tagged the efforts to be irregular and ineffective.
Wasiuddin Ahmed, a resident of the capital’s Rayer Bazar area said, “Activities of the City Corporation regarding the dengue situation were not very satisfactory. They should increase their activities.”
While talking to this correspondent, Zunayed Ahmed, a resident of the Badda area of the capital made quite similar allegation. He said, “I heard that Badda is one of the 17 hotspots for dengue in Dhaka. However, I have not seen anyone from the city corporation spraying mosquito larvicide after the rainy days.”
City Corporations’ authorities said that they had been performing their duties regularly to control dengue. Operations had been ongoing and they would act immediately if any complain is made from any area.
According to health authorities, there were no dengue-related deaths in the first six months of the year but since cases started surging in July, many people have died of the mosquito-borne disease.
Dengue is the leading mosquito-borne viral disease in humans, caused by dengue viruses (DENV)—four genetically related but distinct genetic serotypes, groups within the dengue species of viruses that share specific surface characteristics.
