Dengue should be declared a national health emergency
In a worrying development, the death toll from the disease across the country has set a new record, with at least 99 deaths already recorded within the first 19 days of this month. On Wednesday, dengue reportedly claimed 19 lives, highest in a single day this year. The disease has now turned into an epidemic form resulting in high morbidity and mortality rate. Since the disease started to spread around May this year, we repeatedly asked the authorities to learn from past experiences and take effective steps to prevent infections and deaths. But unfortunately, they paid little heed to such warnings. The result of that is now visible to everyone.
Dengue outbreaks usually occur in Bangladesh from April to September. In previous years, the disease started to spread with the beginning of the rainy season, and the severity of the spread came down before winter. But this year, the situation seems to be quite different. The number of dengue patients has been increasing for several days.
Reportedly, there are now four distinct serotypes of the dengue virus. Previously, there were three. These multiple serotypes have not only caused a rise in dengue cases this year but also, crucially, turned the patients’ conditions severe, resulting in heavy casualties.
The much-asked question now is why couldn’t our health authorities predict the impending danger of dengue so that the people could prepare accordingly? Even after all these deaths from the deadliest disease, the lack of mosquito repellent drives in Dhaka and other cities also makes it clear that the authorities concerned have not taken the dengue menace seriously. Despite living with this disease for the last two decades, it is quite unfortunate that we still have not been able to formulate any integrated vector control policy to deal with this viral disease.
It is time the authorities took drastic steps to shake off their indifference and do whatever is necessary to stop the spread of infections and prevent suffering. Two city corporations in the capital should not have any apathy in driving away the mosquito nuisance from public life. As prevention is better than cure, it is more important to eliminate the source of dengue than to treat the infected persons. If we can do that effectively, we will have less stress in the hospital to face dengue hazards. Considering the severity of infection, the health authorities must now declare dengue a national health emergency in no time. Public health cannot be a choice for the government on which it must deliver.
