Dengue situation turning dire in Faridpur

The dengue situation has turned dire in Faridpur as the number of infected and dead has been increasing, with 250 patients admitted in the 24 hours until Tuesday morning in different hospitals in the district.

Many patients are being treated on hospital floors and corridors as there is a shortage of beds. 

According to the district health department, at present 782 people are under treatment in the district. The number of dengue patients in Faridpur is 8,714 so far. 

Altogether, 7,901 patients have recovered while 31 died so far while undergoing treatment in hospitals in the district.

In the 24 hours till Tuesday morning, seven more dengue patients died and 3,027 were hospitalised across the country.

With the latest figure, a total of 846 dengue patients have died in the country this year, making it the deadliest in the country's dengue history, while 1,73,795 have been admitted to hospitals, according to the state-run Directorate General of Health Services data.

Of the new hospitalisations, 849 were reported in Dhaka city and 2,178 from other parts of the country.

In Faridpur, there is an acute shortage of intravenous (IV) saline, essential for the treatment of dengue patients. In addition to this, the demand for blood has increased several times.

Pharmacies said there has been a huge demand for IV saline for the past few months, but there is little supply compared to demand. 

In this regard, Faridpur Chemist and Druggist Association President Mazharul Alam Chanchal said, "Not only in Faridpur, there is a shortage of IV saline throughout the country. The number of dengue patients and death rate has increased in Faridpur. The saline crisis has been getting worse for the last few months. Companies are unable to provide saline." 

"There is no syndicate here and no pharmacy is charging more than the prescribed price," he added.

In this regard, District Consumer Rights Protection Department Assistant Director Md Sohail Sheikh said, "Regular monitoring is being done in pharmacies to control the price of DNS saline which is required for dengue patients. A few pharmacy owners have been fined for overcharging. Pharmacy owners have reported a supply shortage of saline."

Dengue outbreaks have occurred over the past few years in Faridpur, but no deaths have occurred until two months ago. In the last two months, 31 people have died in the district. 

Many have complained even though the dengue situation in Faridpur taking a turn for the worse, the health department is not bothered about it. 

Faridpur Civil Surgeon Dr Siddikur Rahman said, "We are trying to collect saline from wherever it is available. I hope the dengue situation will improve within the next two weeks."