Seventy-one dengue patients were identified in Khulna, Jhenaidah, Narail, Kushtia, Meherpur, and Bagerhat districts of Khulna division in the first 22 days of July.
Of them, 24 patients are undergoing treatment at Khulna Medical College Hospital, nine at Khulna City Medical College Hospital, and three at Gazi Medical Hospital. The rest were sent home after treatment.
According to the Khulna Divisional Health Office, no one has so far died of dengue in the division this year.
Dr Ferdousi Akter, assistant director of the Khulna Health Department, said a dengue cell was opened on July 3 and so far, 71 cases were confirmed.
She suggested taking patients to hospital immediately if they have a fever but noted that not all hospitals are equipped to conduct dengue tests.
Khulna Civil Surgeon Dr Md Atiar Rahman Sheikh said 116 medical teams were formed. “A medical team is working in each union. No dengue cases were found at the upazila level. The teams are also working on raising dengue awareness,” he added.
In Lakshmipur, doctors identified eight dengue patients between Thursday and on Saturday afternoon. Four of them are being treated at the Sadar Hospital.
Dr Anwar Hossain, resident medical officer of the hospital, said the number of dengue patients has increased over the last few weeks. Four dengue patients were admitted to the Sadar Hospital on Saturday while wo others were sent to Dhaka for better treatment.
In Chapainawabganj, three dengue patients were admitted to the Chapainawabganj Modern Sadar Hospital in the last 24 hours.
Dr Nadim Sarkar, resident physician, said: “The three were ifected in Dhaka. They are being given special treatment.”
In Jessore, 19 dengue affected patients were admitted to Jessore General Hospital in the past week. Of them, 14 are still undergoing treatment there.
The hospital coordinator, Dr Abul Kalam Azad, says there is no dengue virus in the district, and said all the dengue patients there were people returning from Dhaka. “Of the 19, five were cured and sent home.”
In Bogra, another patient was admitted to Shahid Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital on Saturday, adding to the 28 patients already being treated there.
A Dengue Ward was opened at the hospital and a 10-member team was formed, led by Dr Halimur Rashid, to tackle the onrush of dengue patients.
In Rangpur, at least 21 patients were admitted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital up until on Saturday afternoon. Of them, seven were admitted in the last 24 hours.
In Noakhali, 14 dengue patients were identified up until yesterday afternoon. Of them, nine were admitted to Noakhali General Hospital, four to Prime Hospital, and one other to Good Hill Hospital.
Meanwhile, with government hospitals lacking facilities to identify the dengue virus, private clinics charge high fees for these tests, said family members of patients.
In Sirajganj, 11 patients were admitted to Sheikh Fazilatunnessa Mujib General Hospital up until on Saturday
The Directorate General of Health Services said 683 dengue cases were reported in 24 hours (8am Friday to 8am Saturday) from across the country. Since January, the number of confirmed dengue cases stands at 10,528. Eight of the patients died.
Hedait Hossain Molla, Khulna; Saiful Islam, Swapan; Anwar Hossain, Chapainawabganj; Tauhid Zaman, Jessore; Nazmul Huda, Bogra; Liakat Ali Badal, Rangpur; Ranajit Chandra Kuri, Noakhali; and Aminul Islam Khan, Sirajganj contributed to this report