Dengue now in 64 districts
The disease has reached all 64 districts of the country
Dengue has completed its countrywide coverage by spreading into Netrokona district.
It was the last district to have been identified with eight dengue patients on Thursday, according to Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) data.
Thus, the disease has reached all 64 districts of the country.
The health directorate registered 562 dengue cases outside Dhaka in the last 24 hours. In total, some 1,712 people were identified with the disease in this time.
This means that 71 people are being infected with dengue every hour.
So far this year, some 3,464 people have been diagnosed with dengue outside Dhaka. Of them, 1,506 have been admitted to different hospitals.
Dengue patients from Dhaka carried the disease to most districts, except for Chattogram. Dr Ayesha Akter, assistant director at the Health Emergency Operations Centre and Control Room of the DGHS told this to The Business Standard.
She added that doctors are treating affected patients, and are advising them to stay under mosquito nets in order to prevent the spread of the disease.
Physicians fear that the number of dengue patients in other districts may increase further during the upcoming Eid holidays.
As dengue has spread all over the country, the situation is taking a turn for the worse, said Dr Sanya Tahmina, director (Disease Control) of the health directorate.
If the breeding of the Aedes mosquito is not stopped right now, the situation will deteriorate further. So everyone has to make a coordinated effort to fight the menace, she added.
Doctors in different districts have been given guidelines on how to treat dengue patients.
Dengue test kits and reagents are being sent to every district.
Besides, the DGHS, in collaboration with the Bangladesh Society of Medicine, will provide training to physicians and nurses in every district on severe dengue management.
This year till now 19,513 dengue patients have been admitted to different hospitals, according to DGHS data.
Of them, 13,661 patients have returned home after being treated. At present, some 5,838 patients are being treated in different hospitals.
Government data reveals that so far 14 people have died of dengue this year.
But unofficial sources claim that the figure is at least 50.
BSMMU Dengue Cell upgraded to 200 beds to cope with rising patients
The 150-bed Dengue Cell at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) has been upped to 200 beds to accommodate more patients.
In last 24 hours, some 242 dengue patients have been treated at the dengue cell there.
At present, some 139 patients are now getting treatment there.
New dengue ward at Mitford Hospital
Health minister Zahid Malik on Thursday inaugurated a new 100-bed ward for dengue patients at the capital’s Mitford Hospital.
Medical students visiting schools to create dengue awareness
Medical students are conducting campaigns among students of schools and colleges in Dhaka city with the theme “Be aware to prevent dengue, stay healthy”.