The dengue situation in Khulna division continues to worsen, with 114 new patients admitted to hospitals in the past 24 hours, taking the number of patients currently undergoing treatment to 420.
According to Khulna Health Department, dengue cases have been rising since July, with admissions increasing sharply since the beginning of August. From August 9 to 15, a total of 738 patients were admitted to hospitals across the division, while two people died of dengue during the period.
Of the 114 new patients admitted in the past 24 hours, 95 were admitted to government hospitals and 19 to private facilities. Khulna Medical College Hospital recorded the highest number of new admissions at 59, followed by Khulna district with 31 and Jessore with 13. Five patients were admitted in Narail, three in Satkhira, two at Satkhira Medical College Hospital and one in Kushtia.
From January 1 to August 15, 3,305 dengue patients have been admitted to hospitals across the division. Of them, 2,835 have been discharged after recovery, while 38 were referred to other hospitals. Twelve people have died of dengue this year.
Currently, Khulna has 147 patients, Khulna Medical College Hospital 146, Bagerhat 62, Jessore 24 and Narail 15. Other districts have smaller numbers.
The growing pressure is overwhelming hospitals. Khulna General Hospital has only 25 beds in two medicine wards but is treating 61 dengue patients. Overall, 162 patients are receiving treatment against the hospital’s 110-bed capacity.
At Khulna Medical College Hospital, 146 dengue patients are being treated in a 40-bed medicine ward. Patients are also being accommodated in the paediatric ward, corridors and floors.
Hospital authorities said medicines and dengue testing kits remain adequate, but space is becoming a major problem. Private hospitals are also turning away patients when beds are unavailable.
Khulna City Corporation Administrator Nazrul Islam Manju, after inspecting anti-dengue activities, said the situation was alarming and urged residents to destroy Aedes mosquito breeding grounds.
