A record number of new dengue patients have been admitted to hospitals across Bangladesh in the 24 hours to Sunday (Aug 4).
A total of 1,870 people infected with the mosquito-borne viral disease till this morning, says the Directorate General of Health Service (DGHS).
As many as 1, 649 of the patients were infected in capital Dhaka alone and 817 elsewhere in the country.
According to the Health Emergency Operations Centre of the DGHS, a total of 24,804 people were hospitalised with dengue since 1 January.
At least 6,858 patients, including children, are undergoing treatment at hospitals now, while the rest were discharged after treatment.
During the period, 18 dengue patients died, all in the capital, it said. Unofficial estimates, however, say at least 60 people have died so far this year.
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 dengue patients.
Doctors and staff at hospitals are not able to handle the huge number of patients flooding the hospitals 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).
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.

HOSPITAL ASKED NOT TO WASTE TEST KITS

The DGHS has advised all hospitals and clinics nationwide, not to waste NS1 test kits (dengue testing equipment).

In issued a statement signed by Sania Tahmina, director (disease control unit) of DGHS in this regard on Sunday (Aug 4).
Hospitals and clinics across the country are using NS1 test kits for all kinds of patients indiscriminately, thus considering the current situation, and to stop wastage, all concerned are being advised to use this dengue testing equipment only when a doctor recommends it, said the release.
Quoting the stats provided by Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) the release said, a total of 368,200 NS1 test kits have been imported by different importers between Jul 31 and Aug 3.
Among those imported, a total of 157,000 kits came to Bangladesh on Aug 3 alone, and DGDA has also provided no objection certificate (NOC) to importers so that more kits are brought in, to meet the present demand.
From Aug 6 onwards, raw materials for making NS1 kits domestically are being imported, and from this around 35,000 dengue testing equipment can be sourced to different hospitals, and clinics each day, the release added.
These kits will be provided for free in government hospitals, and sold at a specific rate in private clinics, and hospitals as fixed by the DGDA.
There will be no deficit of dengue testing kits in hospitals, and clinics across the country, the release said, again quoting the DGDA.