A total of 57 students and employees of Jahangirnagar University fell ill with dengue in the first 10 days of this month, as the overall number of patients has risen to more than 205 since October.
Four people contracted dengue virus a day on average in October. This month, the daily dengue infection reached five on average.
“Most patients are coming in with high fever, severe weakness, and reduced platelet counts. Early diagnosis and timely medical attention are crucial,” said the university’s chief medical officer Shamsur Rahman.
“Without proper management, regular mosquito control, and community awareness, the infection will continue to spread. Dengue is preventable, but it requires coordinated action.” he said.
The university authorities, however, has no idea where the dengue patients had gone for treatment or whether they were under the observation of a physician.
"Some of them are affected within few days. As far i know, Maximum patients take treatment at nearby hospitals", said Nazmul Hossain Rassel, technical officer (pathology), JU medical centre.
The spread of the disease is particularly a bad news for newcomers at male dormitories who stay in the first or second floor of their respective dormitories.
Female students are not out of danger. The frightening droning of mosquitoes could be heard equally in dormitories, classrooms, cafeteria and in the open places.
“I contracted dengue in the hall and later went home for treatment. I was sick for nearly two weeks and missed my department’s fieldwork,” said Jannatul Kanij, a Geography student and resident of Hall No 13.
Some of the ponds and lakes of Jahangirnagar University dried up and lay covered with water hyacinth, polythene and plastic wrappings of packaged foods.
Plastic wastes and other garbage are dumped at almost every corner of the campus where a large number of visitors crowd every weekend from the capital and its adjacent areas generating a huge amount of waste.
Zoology professor and renowned entemologist Dr Kabirul Bashar said: “The spread of Aedes mosquitoes, the carrier of dengue, has increased in the villages surrounding the campus. Once dengue starts transmitting in an area, the infection gradually rises. If it is not contained in time, it will only continue to increase.