The High Court (HC) has ordered the authorities concerned to spray mosquito repellents across the country and conduct drives in a bid to control the dengue outbreak.
It also ordered a progress report in this regard to be submitted on Oct 16.
The bench of Justice Tariq ul Hakim and Justice Md. Shohrowardi gave the order on Wednesday (Aug 28).
However, no order was given on the formulation of a committee to probe whether there has been any negligence in dengue control and identifying those responsible.
On Jul 14, the HC ordered the two city corporation mayors, executive officers, health secretary, local government secretary and directorate general of health services chief to explain the steps to control dengue and chikungunia.
It also issued a rule asking why the respondents’ failure to prevent these diseases and the their inaction to stamp out Aedes mosquito shouldn’t be declared illegal.
On Jul 22, the two city corporations submitted a report on that matter but the court declaring dissatisfaction summoned the chief health officers to provide and explanation.
Bangladesh is struggling to contain its worst dengue outbreak with 66,064 people hospitalised with the mosquito-borne disease so far this year. Of them, 60,569 were discharged after recovery.
In the 24-hours till 8am on Tuesday (Aug 27), 1,299 new dengue patients were hospitalised. Currently, 5,322 people are being treated at different hospitals and clinics, the government said. Of them, 2,999 are in Dhaka and 2,323 outside the capital.
Dengue causes flu-like illness and occasionally develops into a potentially lethal complication called severe dengue. About half of the world's population is now at risk, the WHO says.
Southeast Asian countries are seeing huge increases in fatal dengue cases this year. There is no specific treatment for dengue or severe dengue, but early detection and access to proper medical care lowers fatality rates below one percent.
According to figures from the Directorate General of Health Services, a total 52 dengue patients have died across Bangladesh so far. However, the unofficial death toll is reported to be over 121 until Aug 27.
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