Dengue outbreak: Expert committees formed to curb dengue

Staff Reporter :

Six patients have died and 1,297 individuals have been hospitalized within the last 24 hours as in a concerning rise in dengue cases across the country, according to a press release from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) issued on Monday.

The breakdown of hospitalisations shows significant numbers across various divisions: 89 patients in Barishal, 185 in Chittagong, 338 in Dhaka division, 264 in Dhaka North city, 143 in Dhaka South, 171 in Khulna, 34 in Rajshahi, 33 in Mymensingh, 36 in Rangpur, and 4 in Sylhet division.

In response to the escalating infection rates, two six-member expert committees have been formed at the Dhaka North and South City Corporations.

These committees have begun intensive work to devise effective and sustainable solutions to combat the mosquito-borne disease.

Md Mahmudul Hasan, the administrator of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), stated that the expert committee has provided initial suggestions aimed at a more effective strategy against dengue, emphasizing the importance of using standardized insecticides and conducting comprehensive surveys on mosquito-borne diseases in collaboration with DGHS.

The implementation of these recommendations is already underway, with ongoing larviciding and adulticiding operations being carried out by approximately 1,000 workers in the DNCC area daily.

Additionally, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Chief Health Officer Dr. Fazle Shamsul Kabir announced that their expert committee is formulating both short-term and long-term plans to tackle the dengue crisis effectively, focusing on the most dengue-prone areas, notably Demra and Kamrangirchar.

Currently, there are 3,893 reported dengue cases under the DNCC area, leading to a total of 32 fatalities.

The cumulative total of dengue cases this year has reached 65,768, with 320 deaths reported so far.

This starkly contrasts with last year’s figures, which recorded 1,705 dengue-related deaths and a staggering 321,179 cases across the country.

The city authorities are optimistic that the combined efforts, including regular anti-mosquito drives, will reduce infection rates by approximately three to four percent within a week, as the community continues to battle this public health crisis.

Local officials urge residents to stay vigilant and adhere to preventive measures to avoid further spread of the disease.