Photo : Messenger
Deaths from Aedes mosquito-borne dengue fever have not abated; instead, the disease's severity has escalated exponentially across the country. The government's attempts to control the outbreak over the last ten months of 2023 have proven inadequate, leading to a daily toll of deaths in the double digits.
According to the Department of Health, the dengue death toll has surged to 1,246, with 8,114 dengue patients presently receiving treatment in a variety of public and private hospitals nationwide. Specifically, there are 2,884 dengue patients in Dhaka's public and private hospitals and 7,237 in hospitals elsewhere.
This year alone, 249,543 individuals have sought hospitalization and received treatment for dengue across the nation. Of this total, 94,194 patients were treated in Dhaka, while 155,349 patients received care outside Dhaka.
Dr. Be-Nazir, the former Directorate General of Health, remarked, "The authorities' lack of competence and the absence of effective measures have compounded the deteriorating dengue situation in our country."
Dr. Kamruzzaman Kamrul, an Associate Professor and Chief Consultant at the Children's Hospital, told The Daily Messenger, “Delayed hospitalization amplifies the risk and the need for antibiotics and other medications. Consequently, the mortality rate has risen, as have the treatment costs.
September has emerged as the deadliest month of the year for the dengue outbreak, with 396 fatalities and 79,598 reported cases, as per DGHS data.
Residents of Manikganj are grappling with a significant dengue burden. Dr. Moazzem Ali Khan Chowdhury, the Civil Surgeon of Manikganj, informed the Daily Messenger that dengue cases in the district have surged. Till the 21st day of this month, 3,506 dengue patients were already admitted to the hospital, compared to 3,700 in September and a mere 674 in August.
According to DGHS records, the dengue death toll in June was 34, rising to 204 in July, 342 in August, and 396 in September. As of October 20th, the death count stood at 257.
Furthermore, in 2022, the statistics reveal that June reported one death, July saw nine, August had eleven, and September recorded thirty-four fatalities, while October registered forty-one.
Sources informed this correspondent that the dengue situation remains alarming, with daily case numbers consistently exceeding 2,000 over the past few months, barring exceptional days. Furthermore, it was discovered that the Ministry of Health has provided extra beds in state-run hospitals in Dhaka and beyond.
However, a shortage of intravenous saline solution (IV saline) has emerged as a significant challenge. Authorities have requested an increase in the production of IV fluids by manufacturers, but patients continue to suffer due to the shortage of IV saline.
Meanwhile, a press release sent from the Health Emergency Operation Center and Control Room of the Department of Health on Saturday stated 20 more people died of dengue and 1,889 dengue patients were hospitalised in the last 24-hour. As a result, 1246 people have died due to dengue this year.
Messenger/Jannatul/Disha
