DENGUE infections have been on the rise again with the spike of cases indicating a situation similar to that of 2019 when Bangladesh recorded over one lakh dengue cases and 179 deaths. A total of 565 patients — 32 of whom are from outside Dhaka — have so far been infected with the disease this year, with 36 new patients hospitalized in 24 hours since Thursday. The fight to control Aedes mosquitoes has largely remained ineffective in the absence of a vector control policy, resulting in the rise of mosquitoes and with those of viral dengue fever in the country over the past few years.
In May 2019, the number of dengue patients in the country was only 193, but it went up to 16,253 before the cumulative figure stood at 101,354. This year, the number of dengue patients was 43 in May. Among the total dengue patients, 131 are currently undergoing treatment while 434 have recovered. Experts fear the rise of dengue fever amid the coronavirus pandemic might put the already strained health sector under further pressure if extensive measures to control Aedes mosquitoes are not taken. Treating dengue patients along with Covid-19 patients is even more challenging and this may lead to an increase in fatalities.
There is a clear trend of rising dengue cases and this might contribute to an explosive situation when the Covid-19 pandemic has also taken a dangerous turn. A study has found the presence of more Aedes mosquitoes in every ward of Dhaka city than in the same period last year. Due to the trend, there is a huge possibility of a rise of dengue patients this year and the number of cases in June speaks to it. It will continue to go up until August if the authorities concerned do not take necessary steps to control Aedes mosquitoes.
The authorities will have to take immediate steps to kill mosquitoes while raising awareness among the people to remove water from all kinds of pots at open places once a week since Aedes breeds in clean water.
