Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Director General Prof Dr Abul Bashar Mohammed Khurshid Alam on Sunday reassured that there is currently no need to declare a “public health emergency” regarding the spread of dengue.
“We do not believe we have yet reached the state of needing to declare a public health emergency. You have seen us make such a declaration in the past when the Covid-19 situation was severe in the country. It may well be that we will have to do so again, but that decision must be discussed at the policy level,” he said during a virtual press conference.
However, Khurshid Alam warned that if the number of dengue patients or dengue infections in the country continues to rise, it could lead to a health crisis.
"Our hospitals had vacant beds, but they are gradually filling up. We have arranged for additional beds. The dengue outbreak is increasing at an alarming rate in the country. We are providing medical services. However, if the infection continues to increase, we too will face a crisis. But so far, we have had no issues treating dengue patients," he said.
"We have conveyed our concerns, and we are also taking into consideration the advice given to us," he added.
Health Services Division Secretary Dr Md Anwar Hossain Howlader said: “I do not think it is necessary to declare a public health emergency just yet. Dengue has been prevalent in our country since 2000. There is a standard protocol for managing dengue. Following this protocol, it is possible to reduce casualties from dengue.”
Dhaka TribuneDr Howlader also spoke about the challenges faced in managing severe cases, commonly known as “shock” patients, and the attempts to prevent conditions from reaching that stage.
"We are trying to prevent the situation from reaching the 'shock' stage at the family level. If a fever occurs, treatment should be sought immediately, and the patient should be quickly taken to the hospital once the fever subsides," he said.
He further advised that individuals should promptly get a dengue test upon the onset of a fever.
Dr Howlader reassured that if the test is negative, there is no cause for concern.
If the test comes back positive for dengue, he highlighted the necessity for prompt management of the patient, which can be done both in a hospital or at home.
He concluded: "I am not suggesting everything is beyond our control. We will continue to analyse the situation."
Bangladesh reported 1,623 new dengue cases on Saturday morning, the highest number of hospitalization in a day from the mosquito-borne disease this year.
During the period, seven more deaths were reported from dengue, raising the number of fatalities from the infection to 100.
