Dengue cases have crossed the 10,000-mark in Khulna Division while 35 people have died from the disease this year, according to the divisional health department.
A total of 130 new dengue patients were admitted to hospitals across the division in the past 24 hours. No dengue-related deaths were reported during the period.
According to a report signed by Khulna Divisional Health Director Dr Sheikh Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain on Friday, 8,775 dengue patients have recovered and been discharged since January 1. Currently, 1,124 dengue patients are undergoing treatment at government and private hospitals across the division.
Khulna district has recorded the highest number of dengue deaths, with 26 fatalities. Nine deaths occurred in hospitals in the district, while 20 were reported at Khulna Medical College Hospital. Of those who died at the medical college hospital, 17 were residents of Khulna. Bagerhat reported three dengue deaths, Jessore two and Chuadanga one.
Khulna is also leading the division in deaths among patients with measles-like symptoms.
Between March 15 and 8:am on Friday, a total of 11,642 patients with measles-like symptoms were identified across the division. Of them, 11,197 were admitted to hospitals and 10,722 were discharged after treatment. Laboratory tests confirmed measles in 373 cases.
During the past 24 hours, 104 new patients with measles-like symptoms were admitted to hospitals, while 79 patients were discharged. So far, 42 deaths have been reported among patients with measles-like symptoms. Khulna recorded 22 deaths, followed by Kushtia with 13, Jhenaidah with five, and Chuadanga and Meherpur with one each.
Meanwhile, Khulna City Corporation officials and employees have donated an amount equivalent to one day’s salary to help purchase 30 beds for the dengue ward at Khulna Medical College Hospital.
A workshop on dengue prevention and the role of religious leaders was also held at the Islamic Foundation’s Khulna divisional office. Divisional Commissioner Md Abdullah Harun urged people to eliminate stagnant water around homes and workplaces, where Aedes mosquitoes breed.
He also called for greater public awareness and coordinated efforts to identify and eliminate mosquito breeding grounds, particularly during the rainy season.
