Dengue cases are feared to soar once again in September with the predictions of intermittent raining. Though the number of dengue affected has fallen in the last week, the decline is erratic.
As per the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Health Emergency Operation Centre and Control Room, the number of dengue patients on Aug 21 was 1,626 people and on Tuesday (Aug 27), the number came down to 1,299.
Although the number is over 300 less, it’s feared that the gap will soon be filled up in case of rainfall in September
Experts say that though the dengue peak season is between June-September, there is no reason to be careful for that period only. This year, dengue emerged much earlier and may even end before the stipulated time.
There is, however, a feeling that there has to be a campaign all year round with special emphasis on September when the monsoon will set it.
Professor Dr Sania Tahmina says: “There will be intermittent rain in September and if we have a cohesive plan then the number of patients will not rise.”
Former dean of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and medicine specialist Dr ABM Abdullah said: “If there is rain then Aedes mosquito larvae will increase; therefore, we need to be vigilant.”
Director of Institute of Epidemiology and Disease Control Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora observes: “We need to sustain the ongoing programme; if we want to bring down the number of patients then control measures cannot be given up.”
There have to be proper management and upazila level officers need to be told to strengthen their anti-mosquito drives, she added.
Divisional head of health in Chattogram, Dr Hasan Shahriar Kabir says: “Keeping September in mind, Chattogram Port Hospital, Railway Hospital and Fouzdarhat BITID Hospital are being readied and doctors trained; in addition, we have kept the 250-bed Chattogram General Hospital.”
Bangladesh is struggling to contain its worst dengue outbreak with 66,064 people hospitalised with the mosquito-borne disease so far this year. Of them, 60,569 were discharged after recovery.
In the 24-hours till 8am on Tuesday (Aug 27), 1,299 new dengue patients were hospitalised. Currently, 5,322 people are being treated at different hospitals and clinics, the government said. Of them, 2,999 are in Dhaka and 2,323 outside the capital.
Dengue causes flu-like illness and occasionally develops into a potentially lethal complication called severe dengue. About half of the world's population is now at risk, the WHO says.
Southeast Asian countries are seeing huge increases in fatal dengue cases this year. There is no specific treatment for dengue or severe dengue, but early detection and access to proper medical care lowers fatality rates below one percent.
According to figures from the Directorate General of Health Services, a total of 52 dengue patients have died across Bangladesh so far. However, the unofficial death toll is reported to be over 121 until Aug 27.