THE number of recorded cases of Dengue infection this year hit 9,531, the highest in 18 years. The situation has made people of all spheres, including doctors, worried. According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the outbreak of dengue is not limited only to the capital city only but the Health Ministry and local government fail to control the epidemic, causing the loss of 24 lives.
News media reported that a new variety of the virus has been detected for the first time in the country, making its treatment more complex. Getting favourable environment while Aedes mosquito is breeding, the city corporation officials hardly destroy the breeding ground using sub-standard chemicals. The Dengue menace has already become a major public health issue, although the authorities are found reluctant.
The number of dengue patients exceeded the 6,000 mark twice in the last 18 years: 6,232 in 2002 and 6,060 in 2016. The number of deaths caused by the mosquito-borne disease has, however, been higher in previous years. Dengue took 24 lives this year. The country saw 93 deaths in 2000 country for the first time. A total of 5,551 people got infected that year. This year many patients got infected for the second time.
Unfortunately, during every such outbreak, the government almost always reacts only after the disease goes out of control despite alarms by the media and others. When many are already infected, it becomes even more difficult to bring the disease under control. Thus, we sincerely hope that the government will not commit the same mistake again, this time around.
There is still time to prevent an outbreak; the Health Ministry should immediately start social awareness campaigns that could reduce the risk of households harbouring Aedes larvae. Moreover, the City Corporation authorities should also ensure that mosquito repellents are regularly sprayed in different neighbourhoods in order to ensure that an outbreak is prevented.
