44 more dengue cases reported outside Dhaka
With frequent cases of dengue fever being reported in Dhaka, some 44 people have been infected with the mosquito-borne tropical disease outside the capital over the last four days, confirmed local authorities.
Citing those cases, doctors said the patients have recently visited Dhaka where there is a dengue outbreak.
IN RAJSHAHI
A total of 23 patients were admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) with dengue symptoms in the last four days. Six of them were diagnosed with the virus, said RMCH Deputy Director Saiful Ferdous.
Among the 23, 10 were admitted on Thursday alone and six the day before, he said.
All of the infected patients have recently visited Dhaka, he said.
“We are yet to find anyone who didn’t visit Dhaka and got infected with dengue,” said Dr Ferdous.
In the wake of outbreak in Dhaka, the RMCH authorities have opened a “dengue corner” with seven beds a week ago, said the director.
Most of the patients with dengue symptoms are taken to the hospital from homes or even other hospitals, he said.
One of the infected persons was Atik Hossain, a constable of Bogura Police Lines.
His father Babul Hossain said his son was sent to Dhaka on a five-say special duty while he was taking a two-month training at Pabna Police Lines.
On return a week ago, Atik had fever and consulted with a doctor at Bogura Police Lines Hospital, but it was too early to find anything serious, said his father.
Amid the situation, he went to Pabna to join the training. But, his illness forced him to get admitted to Pabna Medical College Hospital after July 21, said Babul, adding that three days later he was diagnosed with dengue virus.
As his condition was deteriorating, he was sent to RMCH on July 24, said doctors at the hospital.
Since his admission, he has been undergoing treatment at its intensive care unit (ICU), they said.
Talking to The Daily Star, Dr Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal, in-charge of the ICU, said, “We can’t say he began recovering, but his condition is stable now.”
The hospital doctors expressed their anxiety as a huge number of people are likely to return home in the northern districts from Dhaka during Eid-ul-Azha, expected to be celebrated on August 12.
Dr Ferdous said any dengue infected person can spread the disease by getting bitten by local mosquitoes. “We advise those coming from Dhaka to use mosquito nets on an urgent basis.”
IN PABNA
A total of 15 people diagnosed with dengue in the last four days, were admitted to Pabna Medical College Hospital, hospital sources said.
Most of them travelled to Dhaka recently, they said.
Dr Ranjan Kumar Dutta, assistant director of the hospital, said the number of dengue patients is increasing. They are facing difficulty to treat such patients as the healthcare facility has no diagnosis arrangement.
“When a patient comes, we have to transfer them to private clinics for test,” said Dr Ranjan. “We have already requested the health directorate to provide us with necessary equipment for diagnosis.”
Civil Surgeon Dr Mehedi Iqbal said official process is underway for examination whether there is Aedes mosquito in the district.
Over the diagnosis equipment, the civil surgeon said, “We have already talked to the health ministry about the matter. Until the crisis is resolved, the patients will have to rely on private hospitals for test.”
IN CHATTOGRAM
Seven more patients infected with dengue were admitted to various private hospitals and clinics in the port city yesterday, said Civil Surgeon Azizur Rahman Siddique.
With the newly admitted patients, a total of 48 patients have been affected with dengue fever so far in this season in government and private hospitals in Chattogram, he said.
Most of the dengue patients went to Dhaka recently, he said, adding that they suffered fever several days after they had come from Dhaka.
UNB from Bogura reports, the authorities of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College yesterday confirmed that it had identified 16 dengue patients in the last four days.
Twelve others with symptoms of dengue fever were also being treated at the hospital, said SZMC Deputy Director Dr Musa Al Mansur.
[Our correspondents from Rajshahi, Pabna and Chattogram contributed to the report]
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