Dengue death toll rises to 303 with 10 more fatalities

Staff Reporter  :
The death toll from the ongoing dengue outbreak has risen to 303, with 10 new deaths reported in the last 24 hours, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Saturday.
The country is facing a severe public health crisis as 2,495 more patients have been hospitalised with the viral fever during the same period.

Among the newly admitted patients, 1,069 were brought to hospitals in the capital, Dhaka, while the rest were admitted to medical facilities outside the city, as disclosed by DGHS sources.
Presently, a staggering total of 9,334 dengue patients, including 4,680 in Dhaka, are receiving treatment across the country.
The DGHS has reported a total of 63,968 dengue cases so far this year, along with 54,331 recoveries.

However, the rising death toll and hospitalisations underscore the urgent need for coordinated efforts and a comprehensive national plan to combat the current onslaught of dengue.
In response to the escalating situation, health officials and experts are emphasising the necessity for concerted efforts to control the spread of the disease.
Dr. Mostaq Hossain, an infectious disease expert and adviser at the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control, and Research (IEDCR), highlighted the importance of increasing infrastructure and workforce under city corporations to efficiently tackle the dengue outbreak.

Meanwhile, the Dhaka North City Corporation has taken a proactive step to combat the disease by implementing a strategy using the biological larvicide Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti), imported from Singapore.

This larvicide is intended to reduce the mosquito population and mitigate the transmission of dengue in the capital. Starting from Sunday, authorities will begin the application of Bti in an effort to curb the spread of the deadly dengue virus.

Dhaka North Mayor Atiqul Islam had previously announced the initiation of three-tier activities to prevent the further spread of the disease within the city.
However, health authorities stress that a broader, nationwide approach is crucial to effectively combat the dengue outbreak and prevent further loss of life.