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The number of dengue patients in hospitals has started to increase without the improvement of the epidemic measles situation in Bangladesh. Officially, the number of people infected with this fever has already crossed six thousand, half of whom have been infected in the last month.
During that period, the number of deaths also increased almost three times compared to the previous few months.
Experts fear that the situation may take a ‘fatal form’ as the number of dengue cases and deaths increase in the next few months.
“Especially, the dengue situation can take a serious form during the period from July to September. During that time, there is a danger that both infections and deaths will increase by leaps and bounds,” mosquito researcher and entomologist Professor Dr. told BBC Bangla. Kabirul Bashar.
The government itself is admitting that the dengue situation can take a dire shape ahead. That is why necessary measures have been taken said Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain.
“For the last two months, we have been carrying out cleanliness drive from the district town to the upazila. Besides, a special tablet is available to kill mosquito larvae. We will procure them within the next week to kill the larvae,” Mr. told reporters on Thursday. Hussain.
Along with this, the health minister also said that necessary instructions have been given to the doctors including preparing special wards in various hospitals across the country to prevent death due to dengue.
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How is the hospital situation?
Faiyaz Ahmed Ratul is a third class student of a school in Basabo area of Dhaka. Three days ago suddenly severe fever appeared in his body.
The family took Ratul to Mugda Medical College Hospital the next day after seeing no signs of fever despite taking medicine.
After the examination, the doctors confirmed that the child is suffering from dengue fever.
“I did not go home after hearing this. I have been in the hospital with my son for the last two days,” Ratul’s mother Rebecca Khatun told BBC Bangla.
More than two and a half people have been admitted to Mugda Medical College Hospital in Dhaka South City Corporation area this year due to dengue.
Most of them recovered with treatment, but at least two could not be saved. The hospital currently has a dozen dengue patients, almost all of whom have arrived this week.
The number of dengue patients is also increasing in other government hospitals of Dhaka.
“Especially for the past one week, new patients are being admitted to the dengue ward almost every day,” the professor in charge of dengue ward of Bangladesh Children’s Hospital told BBC Bangla. Atiqul Islam
According to the Department of Health, more than six thousand people have been infected with dengue so far this year.
About 3,000 of them were infected last June. The number of deaths increased from five to 19 in that one month.
According to the statistics of the Department of Health, besides Dhaka, the number of dengue patients is increasing in various districts of Barisal, Chittagong, Khulna, Mymensingh and Rajshahi divisions.
Out of this, the number of deaths in Mymensingh division outside Dhaka is higher. At least five people have died due to dengue there.
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Grown larvae
In Bangladesh, the number of dengue patients increases every year during the monsoon season. That is why experts predict dengue by conducting a survey on the reproduction and density of Aedes mosquitoes before the monsoon.
This type of survey has been conducted by two city corporations of Dhaka this year. Apart from this, Jahangirnagar University Zoology Department teacher and entomologist Dr. Another survey was conducted under the leadership of Kabirul Bashar.
In these three surveys, the presence of Aedes mosquito larvae or pupae was found to be higher than other years in different districts outside Dhaka and Dhaka.
“In other years where the gross index is 10 or 12, this year it has been found to be double or triple,” mosquito researcher Professor Bashar told BBC Bangla.
The presence of Aedes mosquito larvae is calculated using the gross index or BI. In this case, the breeding source of mosquitoes, i.e. the places where mosquitoes can lay their eggs, is checked.
In past surveys, researchers typically found about ten or so mosquito larvae per 100 breeding sources.
But this year it has increased several times.
In the survey of Dhaka North City Corporation, the BI of larvae was found to be above 40 on an average in sewers, drains, flower tubs, plastic containers, can shells, house basements and other breeding places of Aedes mosquitoes, officials said.
Out of 75 wards of Dhaka South City Corporation in the survey, gross index was above 20 in 63.
On the other hand, Professor Dr. Under the leadership of Kabirul Bashar, mosquito larvae were tested in Barisal, Barguna, Pirojpur and Cox’s Bazar districts in the last week of May.
Of these, 43 BIs were found in Cox’s Bazar, 34 in Barisal and about 43 in Pirojpur.
“It is very risky. If not eradicated, the dengue situation could turn very bad in the next two months with the birth of Aedes mosquitoes from these larvae,” said Professor Bashar.
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Why are Aedes mosquitoes increasing?
According to experts, there are two main reasons behind the increasing spread of Aedes mosquitoes in various districts including Dhaka.
“One of these is the favorable climate for the Aedes mosquito,” said Professor Bashar.
According to this researcher, high temperatures and heavy rainfall create an ideal environment for the propagation of Aedes.
“Frequent rains cause water to accumulate in various places. Then Aedes mosquitoes go there to lay their eggs and breed easily,” added Professor Bashar.
Experts say that there is nothing to worry about this mosquito breeding process as long as the larvae can be destroyed by taking necessary measures.
But when they can’t be destroyed, that’s when the real danger arises.
“We have more of that here,” said entomologist Kabirul Bashar.
Explaining the reason for this, this researcher said, “After the July uprising, the local government has collapsed all over the country. For the past two years, there are no public representatives in the city corporation or upazila. As a result, the mosquito eradication work has not been done that way. That is why the mosquitoes have increased.”
Professor Bashar has predicted that the outbreak of dengue will increase if it is not possible to destroy the larvae of Aedes mosquitoes that are present all over the country.
What are the authorities saying?
Public health experts say that as the government has to speed up to control the measles situation that has been going on for more than three months, if the dengue outbreak increases, it will cause a major disaster in the health sector.
“And the coming of a disaster means the sure death of many people. The government does not have the preparation and ability to deal with them well. That is why measures should be taken before the disaster happens,” public health expert Dr. said to BBC Bangla. Be Nazeer Ahmed.
Officials of Dhaka South City Corporation say that they are taking necessary measures to kill mosquitoes so that dengue fever does not spread.
“We have taken utmost precautions to prevent dengue. Considering it as an urgent civil service and public health crisis, we are working on zero tolerance policy,” Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam told BBC Bangla.
In this regard, taking into consideration the results of the survey, a five-day ‘Mask Nidhan Crush Program’ was conducted last month in 27 wards which are at high risk of dengue in south Dhaka, the officials said.
At the same time, cleaning operations and spraying of insecticides and insecticides are reported in medium and general risk wards as well.
Dhaka North City Corporation was contacted about the matter but no comment was received.
However, the health minister says that apart from killing mosquitoes, they are also preparing hospitals to treat dengue.
“Separate dengue wards have been kept in different hospitals. Apart from this, instructions have been given not to give discharge to the dengue patient until the fever has subsided. This will prevent the death of the patient due to plasma leakage,” said Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain.
