Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has issued specific instructions to the authorities concerned to create mass awareness in preventing dengue as the country logged 10 more deaths from the mosquito-borne disease yesterday, with Dhaka city alone registering nine fatalities.
With the fresh fatality count till 8am yesterday morning, the death toll this year stands at 261.
During this period, 2,584 more patients were hospitalised with the viral fever, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The instructions issued by the premier encourage everyone to use mosquito nets and to ensure that water does not accumulate at homes, flats, offices-courts, educational or religious institutions, hospitals and community centers, including medical centers, bus stands, railway stations, etc.
It also asks people to keep their surroundings clean and instructs authorities to carry out campaigns to create awareness in cities, villages, neighborhoods and markets.
According to the DGHS, of the 2,584 new patients, 1,131 were admitted to hospitals in Dhaka and the rest outside it.
A total of 9,264 dengue patients, including 4,869 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
So far, the DGHS has recorded 54,416 dengue cases and 44,891 recoveries this year.
Dhaka logs 200th death
With the latest deaths, the capital has so far this year recorded 205 deaths. This means Dhaka accounts for almost 80% of dengue fatalities.
Such a grim figure also applies to Dhaka’s total caseload as it saw 30,331 cases till yesterday morning.
It may be mentioned that public health experts repeatedly warned in July that the dengue menace may worsen further this month and September.
Bangladesh recorded 204 deaths and almost 44,000 cases in July, making it the deadliest month on record.
The harrowing figures also pose the risk of the highest-ever dengue fatalities in the country, which logged 281 dengue deaths in 2022 – the highest on record after the 179 deaths recorded in 2019.
However, there is no sign as yet that the government will declare the outbreak a public health emergency.