Dengue death toll reaches 444 with nine fatalities

Staff Reporter :

Bangladesh on Thursday reported more nine deaths from dengue in 24 hours, raising the number of fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease to 444 this year.
During the period, 2,288 more patients were hospitalised with the viral fever.
Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said it in a regular press release.
DGHS data showed, 899, among the new patients, were admitted to hospitals in the capital and the rest 1389 outside Dhaka indicating a worsening situation across the country.
DGHS data showed a total of 8,661 dengue patients, including 3,806 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
The health directorate has recorded 94,312 dengue cases and 85,207 recoveries so far this year.
Besides, the World Health Organization (WHO) has urged swift action as dengue cases surge in Bangladesh.
“The higher incidence of dengue outbreak is taking place in the context of an unusual episodic amount of rainfall, combined with high temperatures and high humidity, which have resulted in an increased mosquito breeding across the country,” the WHO said.
Health experts on Thursday focused on taking massive efforts to avert dengue epidemic as the mosquito-borne disease is taking alarmingly turn with recording significant number of dengue patients and deaths in the country this year.
“All relevant organizations should take urgent initiative to control dengue outbreak as Bangladesh is in grip of dengue disease,” Director of The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control s
and Research (IEDCR) Prof Dr Tahmina Shirin told BSS on Sunday.
She said, “Community engagement is very crucial to control dengue disease. Every household in major cities has to be brought under daily surveillance to destroy any potential sources of Adedes mosquito.”
The IEDCR Director said people’s awareness is also a crucial factor particularly in urban areas to bring the mosquito-borne viral disease under control which prevalence has risen sharply in the country this year.
Tahmina described community mobilization as the most effective initiative to control dengue outbreak as dengue positive cases are increasing sharply putting a heavy pressure on entire healthcare system and livelihoods of common people.
Dengue infection rate will increase in next couple months as rainy season may prolong this year, she added.
Tahmina laid emphasis on taking integrated efforts to tackle dengue disease and said that it is impossible for a single institution to handle the menace.