Physicians and health staffers, who are responsible for nursing the sick, have not managed to escape from the clutches of the dengue outbreak themselves this year.

According to government statistics, an estimated 300 physicians and health staffers have become infected with the mosquito-borne virus from January till Aug 22.

Records say that 94 were physicians, 130 nurses and 77 other health staffers have contracted the fever.

Four physicians have so far died of the fever, as confirmed by unofficial sources, while 283 medical staffers have been released from hospitals after treatment.

Twenty-five physicians, 22 nurses and 15 other staffers at Dhaka Medical College Hospital have tested positive for the virus. One doctor and three nurses of the hospital are being treated there at present.

Estimates for private hospitals and clinics in Dhaka say that a total of 132 medical staffers, including 34 physicians and 58 nurses, have became ill with the fever.  

Among the private hospitals in Dhaka, the highest number of physicians contracted the fever at Shaheed Mosur Ali Medical College Hospital. The figure stands at 13 along with four nurses and another 13 staffers.

Forty medical staffers including seven doctors, 27 nurses and six staffers, became infected at Square Hospital.

Although the Directorate General of Health Services was yet to confirm the deaths of any health staffer or doctor, Health Assistant Tapan Kumar Mandol, who was working under the dengue awareness campaign of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), died of dengue at Bangladesh Medical College Hospital (BMCH) in Dhaka on Aug 12.

News of Mondal’s death has been confirmed to Bangla Tribune by BMHC Director Brigadier General Professor Sobur Mia.