Dengue cases surge; experts warn outbreak could worsen
Five people died of dengue across the country in the 24 hours till 8am yesterday, while 1,324 new patients were admitted to hospitals during the same period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The dengue situation is deteriorating rapidly, with more than 1,000 new patients hospitalised each day for four consecutive days. Experts warn that the outbreak could worsen further in September and October.
Professor Kabirul Bashar, a zoology professor at Jahangirnagar University and medical entomologist, said dengue cases could exceed 30,000 in September alone.
"Our surveillance and forecasting models clearly indicate that the dengue situation will worsen in September. If the current trend continues, the number of cases could exceed 30,000 in a single month," he told TBS.
He said intermittent rainfall, temperatures favourable for dengue-carrying Aedes mosquitoes, and surveillance data all point to a worsening situation throughout September and October.
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Aedes mosquitoes have spread to districts, upazilas and even many villages, driving a rapid rise in cases outside the capital, he said.
Daily hospitalisation reaches 1,324
Five people died of dengue across the country in the 24 hours till 8am yesterday, while 1,324 new patients were admitted to hospitals during the same period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
With the latest deaths, the dengue death toll has reached 107 this year, while the total number of cases has risen to 38,280.
Dengue hospitalisations have set new highs over four consecutive days. A total of 1,097 patients were admitted on 30 August, 1,163 on 31 August and 1,324 on 1 September.
According to DGHS data, 20,536 dengue patients were hospitalised in August, more than double the 9,206 admitted in July.
Dengue has now spread to all 64 districts, with Dhaka and Barishal divisions reporting the highest number of cases.
Hospital pressure mounts
The surge in dengue patients is putting increasing pressure on hospitals across the capital, including Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Mugda Medical College Hospital and Kurmitola General Hospital.
Among government hospitals, Suhrawardy currently has the highest number of dengue patients.
Dr Nanda Dulal Saha, director (in-charge) of the hospital, told TBS that patient pressure has increased significantly over the past week. The hospital currently has 250 dengue patients, including 37 admitted in the past 24 hours.
The hospital has 140 beds in two dedicated dengue wards, but additional patients are being accommodated in medicine wards. In some cases, patients have had to be placed on the floor due to a shortage of beds.
The rising patient load has also created shortages of nurses and ward boys. "There is a shortage of baby saline. The increased demand is causing supply problems," he said.
Although a separate 50-bed dengue ward has been opened at Chattogram Medical College Hospital, more than 70 patients are being admitted there each day.
Dr Nurul Islam, director (Hospitals and Clinics) of the DGHS, said a new 50-bed ward has been opened at Khulna Specialised Hospital to cope with the rising number of patients. Another 250 beds have been kept ready at Narsingdi District Hospital.
He said temporary shortages of saline at some hospitals are being addressed through local coordination.
Alongside raising public awareness, people should seek testing promptly when they develop a fever, he said. The rising number of deaths is also linked to patients seeking hospital care at a late stage.
'Evidence-based mosquito control needed'
Kabirul said the main challenge in controlling dengue is the failure to effectively implement evidence-based mosquito control measures.
He said instead of identifying hotspots and taking targeted action, conventional measures such as roadside fogging and routine larviciding are still being carried out.
"If control measures do not reach the places where Aedes mosquitoes are breeding, dengue cannot be controlled through fogging alone," he said.
Outside Dhaka, union parishads, upazila parishads, zilla parishads and municipalities have designated responsibilities and budgets for mosquito control, Bashar said.
Therefore, mosquito breeding sites must be identified quickly and evidence-based control measures taken, he added.
