This year, Dengue was reported in 128 countries, including Bangladesh, and specialists at the health department said that due to climate change, the number of people suffering from mosquito-borne diseases was rising. Since Dengue may re-appear next year, specialists are preparing a national guideline.

Since half the world’s population is at risk of Dengue, through preventive management, the threat can be minimized.

But mosquitoes need to be eradicated first, say specialists.

According to the health department, till Oct 1, the total number of patients admitted to the hospital for Dengue is 88,324 though the actual number of such cases is much higher as people admitted to private clinics were not taken into account.

Commenting on steps taken, director of the health department, Dr Sania Tahmina said: “We need to take steps to control Aedes mosquitoes; a WHO team has come and we are talking to them about ways to deal with Dengue carrying mosquitoes.”

Medicine specialists Dr ABM Abdullah says: “We do not need a specialized hospital and that would not be feasible either. The practical step would be to eradicate mosquitoes. An anti-Dengue drive has to run throughout the year.”

Epidemiologist Dr Kabirul Bashar has also suggested taking measures all over the country to tackle Dengue.

“Unless mosquitoes are annihilated, Dengue will remain,” said Dr Bashar.