Dengue death toll crosses 700 mark as 15 more patients die in a day

Staff Reporter :
Dengue death toll has now reached 706 in the country this year with 15 more fatalities from the vector-borne disease in 24 hours till Friday morning.

Meanwhile, 1,876 more patients were hospitalised with the viral fever in the same period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

DGHS data showed, 842, among the new patients, were admitted to hospitals in Dhaka and the rest outside the capital–indicating a worsening situation across the country.

It said also that a total of 9,730 dengue patients, including 4,265 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.

The DGHS has recorded 1,42,587 dengue cases and 1,32,151 recoveries so far this year.

According to health experts, the vector-borne disease hit Dhaka city in 2000 and subsequently the dengue positive cases were detected in Dhaka city only.

But the dengue disease is changing its nature and it is gradually spreading across the country, they said, adding all 64 districts of the country have witnessed dengue positive cases.

August has been the deadliest month of the outbreak this year with 71,976 cases and 342 fatalities while, July alone recorded 43,854 dengue positive cases with 204 deaths, the DGHS statement read.

Talking to journalists, several entomologists said that dengue by now emerged as an epidemic as it spread all over the country but observed that the concerned agencies, particularly city corporations could not take required steps to annihilate mosquitoes.

According to hospital authorities, the pressure of dengue patients has decreased slightly in healthcare facilities in Dhaka city, meaning the dengue situation is on a decreasing trend in the capital city, while the number of dengue cases is increasing outside Dhaka city.