The number of dengue patients and deaths has started increasing at an alarming rate across the country. Public health experts are afraid that unless everyone can build a collective resistance against dengue, it will be a terrible disaster and surpass all the records of the past days.
On Monday (June 19), a total of four dengue patients were admitted to the capital’s Shishu Hospital in the last 24 hours. At present, a total of 14 dengue patients are under treatment in the hospital. A total of 63 dengue patients have received treatment this year.
Four patients were admitted in the last 24 hours at Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital in the capital, 17 people are under treatment. A total of 76 patients have received treatment from this hospital this year.
Also, 84 dengue patients have been admitted in the last 24 hours and 284 are under treatment at Mughda General Hospital and Medical College.
However, doctors and public health experts believe that the actual number of dengue patients is several times higher than the data provided by the Department of Health.
From January 1 to December 31, 2022, the highest total of 281 people died of dengue in the history of the country and 62 thousand 382 people were admitted to the hospital. From January 1 to June 30 last year, the total number of patients admitted to hospital due to dengue was 1 thousand 89 and one person died. But from January 1 to June 19 this year, a total of 5,231 people were admitted to the hospital due to dengue.
Reviewing the data of the Department of Health, it can be seen that 6 people died in January this year and 3 people died in February. None died in March, two in April and two in May. As of June 19, 23 people have died and the current total is 36. Compared to last year, the number of hospitalized patients is almost five times and the number of deaths is 36 times.
Doctors and related experts say that there is no solution to this problem due to the lack of coordination among the institutions working on dengue, people’s unconsciousness, and haphazard activities. Many people also think that another big disaster is waiting ahead if dengue is not prevented collectively.
In this regard, the advisor and former chief scientific officer of the Institute of Pathology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) Dr. Mushtaq Hossain told Banglanews that dengue is happening all year round now. Dengue did not stop even in winter. Besides, now dengue is spread not only in rain water but also in any clean water. Not only Dhaka city, about 80 to 90 percent of the country is affected by dengue. We are throwing away plastic bottles after consuming water at various times.
He also said that if we don’t carry out the dengue cleaning campaign together with the people of Bangladesh, the days ahead will be terrible. Malaria was eradicated in the 1960s with a campaign to eradicate it. So why can’t we do it now in a free country? It can be done by bringing all people together. It is not just a matter of a few months but at least a five-year campaign. Then we can prevent unwanted deaths from dengue. Denguto is no longer new to Bangladesh.
Referring to the current dengue situation, the director of Health and Hope Specialized Hospital and public health expert Dr. Lelin Chowdhury told Banglanews that dengue patients are increasing. Currently, the type of dengue has changed. The disease severity, complications and death rate of this year’s dengue patients are higher than in 2019. On the other hand, the symptoms of dengue have also changed. Before 2019, the mosquitoes that were usually born or lived in houses used to spread the dengue virus.
He said, currently, to control dengue, both resident and wild mosquitoes must be controlled. This is why we recommend undertaking a three to four day crash program. Not only people’s houses, but also surrounding bushes and forests should be sprayed with mosquito repellent. The efficacy of mosquito repellents has long been questioned.
