The number of dengue patients is rising alarmingly in Bangladesh even though the breeding season for Aedes mosquitoes has not started yet.
The figure this year is higher compared to the first five months of last year.
From January to May 23 of 2022, a total of 264 dengue patients were admitted to hospitals.
During the same period this year, it has already surpassed 1,500.
So far 13 have died already this year, while death from dengue was zero at this time in 2022.
Aedes breeding usually starts in June with the beginning of the rainy season.
According to information from the Directorate General of Health Service (DGHS), this year a large number of dengue patients are residents of the Dhaka South City Corporation area, and most patients are coming to hospitals from Jatrabari.
However, Bangladesh had never witnessed such a dengue situation before the start of the breeding season.
According to the information given by the Health Emergency Operation Centre and Control Room of the DGHS, 1,533 patients were admitted to different hospitals in the country from January 1 to May 23.
Among them, 971 people were admitted in Dhaka and 562 outside the capital.
At the same time last year, the number of patients admitted in 24 hours was less than 10, but this time it has exceeded 50. On May 20, 52 patients were admitted to the hospital due to dengue infection in 24 hours.
It was found in an analysis of data from 722 patients by the DGHS that Jatrabari in the DSCC area has the highest number of dengue patients.
Among the dengue patients, 61.8% of those admitted to hospitals are residents of Dhaka South.
Besides, 16.3% are from Dhaka North and 21.9% are from outside Dhaka.
After Jatrabari, Keraniganj and Kajla areas have the most number of patients.
The National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) and Aedes-Borne Disease Control department of the DGHS disclosed the information after analyzing the data of patients admitted to four government hospitals, five private hospitals and one autonomous hospital in Dhaka.
Among the hospitals, Mugda Medical College Hospital has the highest number of dengue patients.
Out of 722 people, 160 patients were admitted to this hospital.
However, the onrush of patients is increasing every day, said Dr Md Niyatuzzaman, the director of the hospital.
He said new patients are coming in every day. More patients are coming here from the Kajla area. However, the severity of the disease in patients is less.
Other areas in Dhaka at risk for dengue include Uttara, Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Mugda and Jurain, according to a survey of the DGHS.
The DGHS says Dhaka Medical College Hospital is in the second position in terms of dengue patients admitted this year, followed by Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital.
Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital Director Brigadier General Kazi Rashid Un Nabi said: "Dengue patients are increasing. Today we have 17 patients here. But the number of patients is increasing day by day. This is the first time that 17 patients have come here in one day this year.”
Line Director Professor Dr Nazmul Islam of Communicable Disease Control (CDC) of DGHS said that the number of dengue patients is increasing before the start of the monsoon season this year. In this situation, dengue patients may increase this year compared to previous years.
He said that comparing the data from last year and this year, it was found that the number of dengue patients is increasing several times higher than the previous years.
“Although the monsoon season has not yet started, we think there is a need for advance warning and preparation,” he further added.
Reasons behind the surge
According to experts, due to climate change, the rainy season is getting longer, which prolongs the dengue season. Dengue outbreaks are usually supposed to decrease in September, but last year it was prolonged till November.
Kabirul Bashar, an entomologist and professor of zoology at Jahangirnagar University, said: “The pattern we are seeing now, it seems that the dengue outbreak will increase this year compared to last year. Dengue outbreaks will increase especially outside Dhaka.”
He also said: “Among the many reasons for the surge in dengue patients is unplanned urbanization. There are also impacts on water flow systems and climate change. All in all, the season may not be as it was. The peak season of dengue is considered in August and September. But last year, there was an exception. The peak was in October.”
A recent post-monsoon (last year) survey of the DGHS mentioned that the presence of Aedes mosquitoes is more in Dhaka South compared to Dhaka North.
Among the houses where Aedes mosquitoes were found, 39.8% were high-rise buildings and 32% were under-construction buildings.
Aedes mosquitoes are present in more than 4% of homes in Dhaka. This survey was conducted in 108 wards of two city corporation areas of Dhaka from January 26 to February 4 this year. Among these, 3,150 houses in 40 wards of Dhaka North and 50 wards of Dhaka South were included in the survey.
