Govt, people’s lack of awareness responsible for dengue epidemic

The government will have to take the most blame for the dengue epidemic that is now ravaging the country.

Due to negligence of the health ministry and the city corporations as well as municipality authorities, this year the dengue menace has taken an alarming proportion with the number of deaths crossing 500.

The infestation of this viral disease this year is much higher than all previous records.

According to reports, the number of cases and deaths are rising rapidly, but there is doubt whether the steps taken by the government so far are adequate to prevent and treat patients.

The way dengue has turned into an existential threat speaks whether we have a health ministry.

In almost all diseases, there are two sides to deal with diseases: one is curing the disease once it is there and the other is preventing it before a person is attacked with it.

Since dengue is a vector-borne disease and Aedes species of mosquitoes are its carrier, it is very important to be cautious about the mosquito bite particularly during the monsoon.

This is because this viral disease is usually a seasonal one and Aedes mosquitoes breed during the rainy season that provides an ample environment for their breeding.

But negligence of authorities has made it a round-the-year problem in Bangladesh.

Mosquitoes lay eggs in accumulated clean water in such objects as plastic bottles, cans, tyres or any open container.

Even water from such household appliances like refrigerators can be a place where Aedes can multiply.

That is why it is very vital to know these facts in order to prevent dengue and campaign programmes for disseminating the information holds the key.

Since people in general in our country put less emphasis regarding the importance of developing awareness about a disease, they seem to not care.

However, besides the government, voluntary organisations also need to come forward to disseminate key facts of dengue among people.

It is also important that a person also needs to understand how he can know that he is attacked with dengue.

The symptoms of dengue include high fever with at least two of the complications: headache, pain behind eyes, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands, joint or muscle pain and rash.

Once the disease is identified it is always better the patient is hospitalised and given treatment there.

Of late, the BSMMU has taken an initiative to develop a vaccine against dengue which must receive all-out support from the government.