Intensify dengue control efforts: HC

Staff Reporter :

The High Court (HC) has passed an order on Tuesday, asking authorities concerned to take effective steps to control dengue across the country as Bangladesh has been witnessing high number of dengue cases.

Seven dengue patients died and 1,211 were admitted to different hospitals in the country during the past 24 hours till Tuesday morning.

A High Court division bench of Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Mubina Asaf passed the order after holding a hearing on a writ petition filed in this regard. The court asked to execute the order and submit a report within the next 30 days.

The court also asked to form a high-powered committee to adopt long term planning to check dengue in the country. It also issued a rule, asking concerned authorities to reply as to why it shall not declare illegal their failure in checking dengue.

“During the period, 108 dengue patients were hospitalised in Barishal division, 139 in Chattogram, 291 in Dhaka division, 221 in Dhaka North city while 190 in Dhaka South, 130 in Khulna, 67 in Rajshahi, 43 in Mymensingh, 18 in Rangpur and eight were admitted to different hospitals in Sylhet division,” said a press release issued by the directorate general of Health Services (DGHS).

This year, the total number of cases rose to 74,800 while 367 deaths from dengue disease were reported during the period, the statement added. Last year, the country recorded 1,705 dengue-related deaths and a total of 3,21,179 dengue cases.