Syed Shemul Parvez :
Number of dengue patients has started increasing again in the country. Most of them are from the capital city. They were admitted to city’s Mugda General Hospital. As a result most of the city dwellers are in serious panic realizing the gravity of the situation.
It is known that the number of dengue cases in the first six months from January to June this year was 352. In July, the number of dengue patients increased at an alarming rate. In the first 18 days of July, 812 people were infected with dengue across the country. This year, 4 out of 5 dengue deaths occurred in only July. In addition to the authorities being more proactive in mosquito control, health experts have advised testing as soon as someone shows symptoms of dengue.
Health expert Prof. Dr. Farhad Manzoor has advised to clean the accumulated water of the house, water under the flower tub or refrigerator daily. Apart from keeping the house clean, this expert also advises to pull mosquito nets while sleeping.
Mugda General Hospital has the highest number of dengue patients in the capital. Currently 28 dengue patients are admitted to this hospital. Most of them are residents of Manda, Mugda, and Basabo of Dhaka South City Corporation.
According to the calculations of the Department of Health, from January 1 to July 22 this year, 2 thousand 14 people were admitted to the hospital due to dengue. Of them 1 thousand 733 people have recovered and left the hospital.
During this time only in capital city, 1 thousand 715 people were admitted to the hospital due to dengue and 1 thousand 498 people returned home after recovery. About 299 people have been admitted to hospitals outside Dhaka and 235 people have recovered and returned home. In this situation, along with the two City Corporations, the city residents have also been advised to be more aware of mosquito control, said Professor Dr. ABM Abdullah.
He urged all residents not to neglect this at any cost. Any type of fever should be immediately consulted by a doctor. Apart from this, everyone should emphasize on the cleanliness of the house. Dr. Abdullah said, water cannot be kept for more than three days in the tub of plants kept in the house or on the roof, under the AC and under the refrigerator. Inhabitants of the residence have to clean their own houses regularly. Public awareness is very important in this regard. And the city corporation’s authorities should be more proactive in this regard, ABM Abdullah added.
Dr Kabirul Bashar, an entomologist of Jahangirnagar University, told the New Nation that the number of dengue patients in the capital may increase in August than in July as both August and September are called the highest pick months for the dengue outbreak.
In this situation, how to control the upcoming pick months of dengue, Dr Kabirul said, as Mugda General Hospital has the highest number of dengue patients in the capital and Most of them are residents of Manda, Mugda and Basabo of Dhaka South City Corporation. So authority should give emphasis on these areas rapidly. First of all they should identify the houses of dengue patients. After that they have to take the initiatives of killing all kind of flying mosquito in that hotspots area.
Meanwhile, on Saturday (July 23), Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Md. Atiqul Islam visited several under-construction buildings and houses to make the residents of Lalmatia residential area of the capital aware. He distributed various leaflets and stickers among the local residents.
