DHAKA, Jul 28 (NNN-BSS) – Bangladesh recorded 2,361 new cases of dengue fever and 10 new deaths yesterday, bringing its total tally to 42,702, with 225 deaths, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said.
According to the figure, reported by the DGHS under the Ministry of Health, 34,724 more dengue cases were recorded during the first 27 days in July, after 5,956 people were infected with the mosquito-borne disease last month.
The deaths this year include 178 in July and 34 in June.
The total number of recovered patients, however, rose to 34,010, including 2,073 new recoveries reported yesterday, said the DGHS.
Amid the rising dengue cases, hospitals and clinics in the capital, Dhaka, are crammed with dengue patients.
Yesterday, the Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, one of the largest public hospitals in Dhaka, was seen flooded by hundreds of patients.
Md Khalilur Rahman, director of the hospital, said that, the dengue outbreak this year occurred much earlier than in other years and increased significantly in July.
He said, the number of patients in the hospital was mounting every day. “Initially, we kept here fewer beds dedicated (for dengue patients), but later we made separate wards for male, female and children.”
As so many patients were coming, he said, the hospital could not admit all of them.
“We only admit patients who have poor and ominous signs. And those who is stable, we send them home after treatment, they are advised to eat liquid food and have enough rest.”
If someone develops a fever, he or she should first be tested to determine whether he or she has dengue, Rahman said.
“Our test pressure has increased almost fivefold,” said the doctor, adding that, there was a possibility of an increase of dengue cases in Aug and Sept. It appears that this year’s dengue situation is worsening rapidly, with a high infection rate and death toll.
The Jun-Sept monsoon period is the season of dengue fever in Bangladesh. The government has already asked state agencies for more coordinated efforts to rein in the outbreak of dengue.
Dengue fever causes an acute illness that usually follows symptoms such as headache, high fever, exhaustion, severe muscle and joint pain, swollen glands, vomiting and rash.– NNN-BSS
