Khulna hospitals packed with dengue patients
Khulna has emerged as a major dengue hotspot as a sharp rise in infections pushes hospitals to the brink, with patients being treated on floors and corridors amid a shortage of beds.
The situation has deteriorated despite measures by Khulna City Corporation (KCC), including insecticide spraying, fogging and mobile court drives. Ten wards of the city have already been declared red zones, while political parties and their affiliated organisations have joined awareness and prevention efforts.
Health authorities warn that stagnant water left during and after the monsoon is creating favourable breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes and urge residents to keep their homes and surroundings free of such water.
According to a report released by the Khulna Divisional Health Directorate on Tuesday, 246 new dengue patients are admitted to hospitals across the division in the 24 hours to September 1. Of them, 209 are admitted to government hospitals and 37 to private clinics and hospitals.
Khulna district records the highest number of new cases, with 116 patients, including 79 admitted to government facilities and 37 to private ones. Another 46 patients are admitted to Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH).
Jashore reports 23 new patients, followed by Satkhira with 20, Bagerhat 16, Narail and Jhenaidah seven each, Kushtia five, and Meherpur and Magura three each. No new dengue patient is admitted in Chuadanga during the period.
Dr Sheikh Md Mosharraf Hossain, director of the Khulna Divisional Health Directorate, says 6,094 dengue cases are reported in the division between January 1 and September 1 this year.
Of them, 5,188 patients have recovered and returned home, while 20 people have died. Another 735 patients are currently undergoing treatment at government and private hospitals across the division.
Health directorate data shows that Khulna district accounts for 19 of the 20 dengue deaths in the division, with the remaining death reported in Bagerhat.
The outbreak has intensified sharply in recent weeks. While eight dengue deaths are recorded between January 1 and July 28, another 12 are reported in August alone, indicating a rapid escalation of the outbreak.
Hospitals under pressure KMCH is bearing the heaviest burden, treating the highest number of dengue patients in the division. A total of 1,435 dengue patients have been admitted there so far, with 17 deaths recorded. Currently, 181 patients are receiving treatment at the hospital.
A visit to KMCH and several other hospitals finds wards, corridors and floors crowded with dengue patients. As designated dengue wards struggle to accommodate the growing number of patients, additional beds are being placed in corridors and on floors.
The pressure is particularly acute in the paediatric ward, where parents struggle to secure beds for their children. Private hospitals are also facing a shortage of beds as demand continues to rise.
The strain on hospitals reflects the widening reach of the outbreak beyond isolated cases, placing increasing pressure on both public and private healthcare facilities.
According to the Khulna Civil Surgeon’s Office, at least five beds are kept ready at dengue isolation units in every upazila health complex. Stocks of normal saline, oral saline, paracetamol and other essential medicines, along with mosquito nets, are reported to be adequate.
Dengue testing kits are also sufficiently available at upazila and district-level hospitals. In coordination with KCC, special awareness and free treatment camps are being organised in wards 17, 22 and 30 of the city.
Mosquito control efforts
Dr Himel Ghosh, medical officer at the Khulna Civil Surgeon’s Office, says stagnant water during and after the monsoon provides an ideal breeding ground for Aedes mosquitoes.
“Earlier, Aedes mosquitoes were mainly known to bite during the daytime. Now, they are biting both day and night,” he says, adding that dengue infections may start declining from November or December.
Dr Sharif Shamiul Islam, chief health officer of KCC, says adequate stocks of paracetamol and saline are available.
He says three high-level monitoring committees are supervising mosquito-control activities, with Abate being sprayed in the morning and fogging carried out in the afternoon. Mobile courts are also imposing fines when mosquito larvae are found.
KCC Administrator Nazrul Islam Manju says leave for all officials and employees involved in sanitation and health services has been cancelled as part of intensified efforts to tackle the outbreak.However, he stresses that city authorities alone cannot contain the spread.
“Residents must also play their part by keeping their courtyards, flowerpots and rooftops clean and ensuring that no stagnant water remains where mosquitoes can breed,” he says.
With dengue cases rising rapidly and hospital capacity under mounting pressure, health officials say sustained mosquito-control measures and active participation from residents are crucial to preventing the outbreak from worsening.
