DHAKA, Sept 1 (NNN-BSS) – Bangladesh witnessed a significant spike in dengue cases in Aug, with 10,356 cases and 42 deaths registered so far this year, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said yesterday.
Last month (Aug), 7,698 more dengue cases were recorded, after 2,286 people were infected with the mosquito-borne disease in July, according to the figure reported by the DGHS, under the Ministry of Health.
By region, Dhaka and its neighbouring districts are still more vulnerable to the risk of mosquito-borne diseases, according to the DGHS.
A total of 266 fresh dengue cases, including 220 in Dhaka, were reported in the 24 hours till 8:00 a.m. local time yesterday. Against this backdrop, hospitals and clinics in Dhaka are crammed with dengue patients.
Yesterday, one of the largest public hospitals in Dhaka – Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital – was seen flooded by hundreds of patients suffering from dengue fever, which is transmitted by several species of mosquito within the genus Aedes.
Khushbu Binte Bashar, a doctor at the hospital’s Dengue Ward, said, there are currently 184 patients in the dengue ward, with 36 admitted and 26 discharged during the past 24 hours.
Two patients died in the last 24 hours, she said.
According to the doctor, the DENV-3 variant was found in 20 percent of patients.
“Although its not a high percentage, it is considered alarming, as this variant is much more dangerous,” she said.
According to the doctor, people who have had dengue before are more likely to have serious consequences, if they are affected by DENV-3.– NNN-BSS
