People get into dengue panic

Lenin Rahman: 

The spreading of the dengue outbreak needs to tackle at any cost to consider the security of the public health of the country, according to the physical experts.

Gradually, the number of dengue cases is increasing in various hospitals in the capital and most of the city dwellers are getting into a panic to witness the adversity of dengue affection this year.

The condition of most of the patients is critical and the highest number of patients died since the beginning of the ongoing month of July mainly for lack of adequate healthcare services.

So far, some 64 people died from dengue infection this year, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) data disclosed.

Till the first week of July this year, some 10, 455 people were affected by dengue while 8,482 patients got recovery from the rhetoric disease.

Against this backdrop, the country logged 281 dengue deaths in 2022 which is the highest on record after 179 deaths recorded in 2019.

At the beginning of July, such a terrible dengue outbreak has never been seen before in the country, mentioned the physical experts.

Meanwhile, two dengue patients died and 661 were admitted to different hospitals in the country during the past 24 hours till 8 am yesterday.

A total of 433 dengue patients were hospitalized in Dhaka city and 228 were admitted to different hospitals, a press release of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) revealed yesterday.

“This year, 64 deaths were reported from dengue disease while 269 died last year,” the daily statement of the DGHS said.

With the new cases, the total number of patients rose to 11,116 the statement said, adding: “Some 8,923 patients were released from different hospitals this year among the total patients.”

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has recently issued comprehensive instructions on the prevention of dengue infection as the mosquito-borne tropical disease has increased sharply this year.

Meanwhile, the efforts of the two city corporations specifically Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC)) and Dhaka South City Corporation were not satisfactory to tackle the dengue outbreak, claimed the social experts.

The timely initiatives of the two City Corporations of Dhaka were needed to control the dengue outbreak.

The authorities of the city corporations are undertaking initiatives when the dengue cases and deaths witnessed robust growth.

Many city dwellers expressed their dissatisfaction with the DNCC and DSCC because both city corporations are deficient in public awareness activities. Their activities are mainly limited to conducting raids in certain areas and collecting fines, claimed Md Sahin Biswas, a private service holder.

Dhaka North City Corporation started using drones to identify the source of mosquitoes Wednesday last and the authority conducted a month-long special awareness campaign to control mosquitoes from July 8.

On the other hand, Dhaka South City also started a special campaign to control mosquitoes last Tuesday.

“It is really crucial to raise public awareness and involvement in dengue prevention,” told a physical expert Dr Nusrat Jahan Orthi.

Meanwhile, the National Malaria Eradication and Aedes-borne Disease Control Program under the Health Department’s Disease Control Wing conducts mosquito surveys in Dhaka North and South City Corporation areas three times a year to tackle the dengue infection.

 However, the post-monsoon survey conducted in April this year disclosed that larvae were found in 10 percent of houses in some areas of Dhaka.

However, the Department of Health predicted that the number of dengue patients may increase this year.

Mushtaq Hossain, Advisor, Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) expressed his satisfaction with the prevention mechanism of the city corporations.

“I am satisfied with the temporary arrangement to tackle dengue transmission, but it is a difficult task to take preventive measures with the limited workforce”, he added.

However, both city corporations have announced their action plans to conduct ward-level public awareness meetings.

Meetings in educational institutions, ward-wise awareness processions, ward-wise miking, distribution of leaflets, and sticking of stickers in public transport are the preventive measures to control dengue.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Zahid Malek also pointed out the deficiency in the activities of the City Corporation in this connection.

According to the survey of the pre-monsoon mosquito by the Department of Health, 55 of the 98 wards in the two cities of Dhaka are at high risk.

Lieutenant Colonel Golam Mostafa Sarwar, deputy chief health officer of Dhaka North City mentioned dengue prevention is not possible, if we do not endure the participation of the mass people.

“It is not possible for the city corporation to prevent dengue without the participation of the people and the city corporation is putting its utmost efforts to involve people for preventing dengue infection”, he added.

Sources said that Mugda Medical College and Hospital admitted the highest number of patients this year and 20 people died while taking dengue treatment at the said hospital.

Meanwhile, Mugda Hospital authorities mentioned that the number of dengue patients are increasing in this hospital since the beginning of June.

Most of the patients are coming from different areas of the capital including Jatrabari, Dhalpur, Shanti Bagh, Kajla, Meradia, Mugda, and Banshri.