Health Minister Zahid Maleque said that the dengue situation across the country is worsening as cases have been detected in 50 districts across the country.
He said this while speaking at a program as the chief guest at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) in Dhaka on Wednesday.
The minister said there is no shortage of beds or medical services in the hospitals.
He said: “Dengue cannot be controlled just by increasing medical facilities. The city corporations and Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives needs to work sincerely in this regard. At the same time, common people should be more aware and responsible.”
Bangladesh recorded four more deaths from dengue while 1,094 new patients were admitted to different hospitals with mosquito-borne disease in the 24 hours to Wednesday morning,
The official death toll from the disease rose to 152 in 2022 – the second-highest on record after the 179 deaths recorded in 2019, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
DGHS has recorded 40,101 dengue cases and 36,199 recoveries so far this year.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed her concern over the sudden proliferation of dengue cases at an alarming number in various parts of the country including the capital.
She instructed government officials to ensure that everyone keeps their houses clean to minimize the number of Aedes breeding grounds.
The confirmed death toll from dengue jumped by over 150% in October, compared to a month ago.
The DGHS so far confirmed 86 deaths in October. The toll was 34 in September.
In October, 21,932 people were admitted to hospitals with a 121% hike compared to 9,911 hospitalizations in September.
Meanwhile, the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) launched a monthlong anti-mosquito drive in all its wards on Tuesday to prevent the upward trend of the vector-borne disease.
On Sunday, LGRD Minister Md Tajul Islam said neighbouring countries are suffering more from the dengue outbreak than Bangladesh.
“India reported some 200,000 dengue cases on Saturday. Cases and death rates are especially high in Kolkata,” said the minister at a meeting organized to review the activities of the city corporations and other ministries to combat dengue.
The minister later said that till October 1, Singapore had reported 28,196 cases, but the numbers have increased since then. “Some 37,950 dengue cases were reported in Malaysia, 94,355 cases in Indonesia, and 145,650 cases in the Philippines.
On the other hand, the minister said Bangladesh had reported 33,923 cases till October 26, which is a lot less than most neighbouring countries.
