The dengue and suspected measles situation continues to worsen in Khulna division, with 24,095 cases reported since the beginning of the current year and 83 deaths, including 39 from dengue and 44 from suspected measles.
The figures were reported by the Khulna divisional health director’s office in a report signed by Director Dr Sheikh Md Mosharraf Hossain on Thursday.
In the past 24 hours, 286 dengue patients were admitted to hospitals across the division, while three died from the disease.
According to the report, 11,915 dengue patients have been hospitalised this year, with 10,483 discharged after recovery and 294 referred elsewhere for better treatment.
Khulna district recorded the highest number of dengue admissions at 4,453, including 12 deaths. Khulna Medical College Hospital treated 2,489 dengue patients and reported 21 deaths, 17 of them from Khulna district.
Bagerhat recorded 1,804 admissions and three deaths, while Jessore reported 1,162 admissions and two deaths.
Over the past 24 hours, Khulna district recorded 108 new dengue admissions, followed by Bagerhat with 52 and Khulna Medical College Hospital with 51.
Meanwhile, 12,180 suspected measles cases have been reported in the division since March 15. Of these, 373 were confirmed, while 44 suspected measles patients died.
Kushtia recorded the highest number of suspected measles cases at 2,856, followed by Khulna with 2,127 and Jhenaidah with 1,007.
To deal with the rising dengue cases, Khulna Medical College Hospital opened a separate 30-bed dengue ward on September 19. The beds were funded through donations equivalent to one day’s salary from Khulna City Corporation employees.
Khulna City Corporation Administrator Nazrul Islam Manju said the corporation had intensified mosquito-control and cleanliness drives across the city. He urged residents to keep their homes and surroundings clean and remove stagnant water from places such as discarded coconut shells, tyres and plastic containers to prevent mosquito breeding.