Desk Report:
In the last 24 hours, 9 people have died of dengue in the country; which is the highest number in a single day this year. At the same time, 740 people have been admitted to the hospital. The number of patients admitted to the hospital is also the highest in a single day.
Today, Sunday (September 21), a notification given on the dashboard of the Health Emergency Operation Center and Control Room of the Directorate General of Health Services informed about the death of 12 people in 24 hours (from 8 am yesterday Saturday to 8 am today Sunday). Later, an e-mail sent from the Directorate General of Health Services said that 9 people have died in the last 24 hours till 8 am today. And in the previous 24 hours, i.e. from 8 am Friday to 8 am Saturday (September 20), 3 deaths have been added to make 12.
Of the 12 people who died in the last two days, three died at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College in Barisal, two at Kurmitola General Hospital, two at Patharghata Upazila Health Complex in Barguna, and one each at Dhaka Medical, Mugda Medical, DNCC Covid-19 Hospital, Mymensingh Medical and Ever Care Hospital in Chittagong. Among the deceased, six were men and six were women. Their ages were 24, 60, 29, 63, 57, 34, 65, 26, 25, 45, 30 and 48 years respectively.
This year, the highest number of dengue deaths of 57 people was in September. Earlier, 41 people died in July. Apart from this, 10 people died in January, 3 in February, 7 in April, 3 in May, 19 in June, and 39 in August. No patient died in March.
Meanwhile, the highest number of people admitted to hospitals this year was 10,684 in July. Apart from this, 1,161 people died in January, 374 in February, 336 in March, 701 in April, 1,773 in May, 5,951 in June and 10,496 in August. As of September 21, 10,355 patients have been admitted to the hospital.
Dr. Mushtaq Hossain, advisor and former chief scientific officer of the government’s Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), told Ajker Patrika, “Today’s death toll is basically two days. The current weather is suitable for the reproduction of Aedes mosquitoes. A little rain, a little sunshine has been seen for a month.”
Mushtaq Hossain said, “The government is dealing with dengue traditionally. An independent administration is needed for dengue. Before that, dengue should be considered a public health emergency. Dengue control, disease prevention – these are not possible with a single authority. Along with mosquito control, patients should be found. A high-level decision of the government is needed to coordinate with the local government department and the health care department, which is not being taken.’
Regarding research on dengue, he said that although the IEDCR, National Institute of Immunization and Social Medicine, International Center for Diarrhea Research Bangladesh (ICDDR, B), and entomology departments of various universities have conducted research, the government is not acting accordingly.
Entomology experts have warned that the dengue outbreak may become more severe in the coming months. Of the four types of dengue in the country, DEN-2 and DEN-3 are currently more prevalent. However, due to the lack of genetic research, it is not known whether mutations are occurring. The increase in the number of patients and deaths is due to environmental conditions, climate change, pollution, and lack of proper management.
Meanwhile, the government’s dengue statistics mainly depend on data from certain government and private hospitals. Apart from this, although there are patients in many hospitals across the country, their data is not collected. Many are infected and staying at home or dying, which are remaining out of observation.
