New dengue cases declining: Minister

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Bangla Tribune Desk
Published : 20:46, Aug 13, 2019 | Updated : 20:53, Aug 13, 2019

Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque visited dengue infected patients at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Medical University (BSMMU) on Saturday (Aug 3).The number of new patients hospitalised with dengue is declining because people are becoming more aware about the disease, says Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque.

He made the remark after visiting Kurmitola General Hospital, Kuwait Bangladesh Friendship Government Hospital, and Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka on Tuesday, reports UNB. 

He visited the patients and enquired after their treatment. “The hospital staff and health sector officials who sacrificed their Eid vacation to serve the patients deserve to be lauded,” he said.

At least 1,200 new dengue patients were admitted to hospitals across the country in 24 hours till Tuesday morning, the government said. During the same period on Monday, 2,093 patients were hospitalised.

“The increasing awareness of the general people is one of the biggest reasons behind the decrease in the number of newly-hospitalized dengue patients,” the minister told the media.

Since January, 44,471 people were hospitalised with dengue, according to the Directorate General of Health Services. Of them, 36,884 had made full recovery.

Currently, 4,115 patients are being treated at 40 government and private hospitals in the capital. Another 3,432 patients are being treated at hospitals outside Dhaka. 

The government has so far confirmed 40 deaths although unofficial estimates suggest a higher death toll. At least four deaths were reported from across the country on Monday (Aug 12) and Tuesday (Aug 13).

The health minister asked the patients and their relatives not to panic and raise awareness about the disease and receive proper treatment.

/wa/
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