Dengue is spreading across Bangladesh. Several members of the same family are falling ill, hospitals are struggling with the number of patients, and some are being treated on the floor for want of beds. Deaths this year have reached 239 and 77,672 people have been treated in hospital; 142 of the deaths came in September alone.
By month, 43 people died in August, 36 in July, 13 in June, one in May and two each in January and February. Of the deaths, 113 were in Dhaka division, including the two city corporations, 45 in Khulna, 23 in Chattogram, 20 in Mymensingh, 18 in Barishal, 14 in Rajshahi, five in Rangpur and one in Sylhet.
"Our forecasting model says the dengue situation will get worse in October," said Dr Kabirul Bashar, dengue specialist and professor of zoology at Jahangirnagar University. The idea that the Aedes mosquito bites only in the daytime is also wrong, he said; tests have shown it can bite at night.
After biting an infected person, an Aedes mosquito needs at least two days before it can pass the virus on, he explained. That is why other family members can fall ill a few days after the first, and he advised clearing mosquitoes from inside the home when anyone in the family has dengue.
Doctors say that because early dengue symptoms resemble seasonal fever and colds, many people lose time by not getting tested, which can lead to complications later. Fever and cold cases have risen, hitting children and older people hardest, with some developing complications such as pneumonia.
Public health expert Professor Dr Benzir Ahmed said that as well as personal care, surroundings must be kept clean and water must not be allowed to collect anywhere. Water standing in coconut shells, flower pots or plastic sheeting can become a breeding site for Aedes mosquitoes.
Photo: US Department of Agriculture / Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Source: Nagorik TV
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