The health department has identified patients infected with dengue in all districts across the country, except for Netrokona.

The total number of patients hospitalised with the mosquito-borne disease has reached 17,183 so far this year, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said on Wednesday (Jul 30).

It reports 14 deaths from dengue. However, according to a Bangla Tribune count, more than 50 people have died from the disease so far this year.

A total of 1,477 more people infected with the mosquito-borne fever were hospitalised across the country in the last 24 hours till 8 am on Wednesday, according to the Health Emergency Operations Centre and Control Room of the DGHS.

Currently, 4,903 dengue patients are being treated in hospitals across the country, it said.

On Tuesday, 1,300 new dengue cases were reported while the number was 1,096 on Monday.

Dengue fever that has taken a heavy toll on public health this year in Dhaka has spread almost all over Bangladesh.

Most of the patients are believed to have travelled from the capital, the epicentre of the outbreak, but authorities do not rule out local infections since a rural variety of dengue mosquito is prevalent outside Dhaka.

The DGHS Control Room says 2,654 cases have been recorded in 63 out of the 64 districts across the country.

Almost all hospitals in Dhaka are struggling to cope with the increasing flow of dengue patients, with many public hospitals accommodating patients on the floors.

Hospitals and clinics across Bangladesh are facing a shortage of facilities, making them struggle to provide services to patients flooding with dengue symptoms.

A viral infection, dengue causes flu-like symptoms, including piercing headaches, muscle and joint pains, fever and full-body rashes. Of the millions of people infected with dengue every year worldwide, an estimated 500,000 develop severe symptoms requiring hospitalization, and of those, some 12,500 people die, according to the World Health Organization (WHO)

The number of patients diagnosed with dengue this year in Bangladesh has reached an all-time high.

The government has requested technical assistance from the WHO in implementing mosquito population control methods, according to a report published this week, in a bid to help stymie the spread of the nationwide disease.

Additionally, the health ministry says it has developed national treatment guidelines and is aiming to raise awareness of the disease through daily advertisement in newspapers, alongside other measures to tackle the spread of the illness.

Searching for and destroying mosquito breeding places, use of mosquito net as well as repellents, and seeking early consultation when the first signs and symptoms of the disease strike are the most effective ways to prevent and cure dengue.

Doctors suggest taking rest and plenty of fluids such as oral saline, coconut water, juices in fever. Medicines other than paracetamol are restricted without the doctor's advice.