Dengue panic grips DU students
Fear of contracting dengue fever has gripped Dhaka University students, after several of them were diagnosed with it.
A total of 35 students diagnosed with dengue were admitted to the Dhaka University Medical Centre (DUMC) or took treatment from the centre between July 16 and 28, according to the facility’s record book.
“The actual number of patients is way more than what our records show. We could not accommodate many patients due to lack of beds and referred some to other hospitals as we do not have proper apparatus to treat them,” an office assistant of the medical centre, wishing anonymity, told The Daily Star.
Anxious students are rushing into the medical centre to get platelet count test done through the cell that was launched on Sunday, despite not being diagnosed with dengue.
“One has to get the complete blood count test (CBC) done if they are diagnosed with dengue in the first three tests -- NS1 antigen test (nonstructural protein 1), IgG and IgM. But students who do not even have fever are coming frequently to get the CBC test done. In the first two days, at least 450 students were tested but only 11 were diagnosed with dengue,” said DUMC’s acting chief medical officer Dr Sarwar Jahan Muktafi.
During a visit, this correspondent witnessed long queues outside the medical centre.
“It has certainly caused panic among the students. Many are distraught after catching seasonal fever. Any mosquito I see, seems to be an Aedes mosquito,” Jobayer Ahmed, a resident student of Bijoy Ekattor Hall said.
A number of students at a human chain on Sunday also demanded that the authorities keep the university closed till declaring the campus free of dengue.
Also, the poor condition of the medical centre -- with not having adequate apparatus -- aggravated the students’ sufferings.
“There are only two ward boys, a peon and some staffers who also work as caretakers. The medical centre has only 24 beds and has no amenities except for some saline stands,” a staffer said.
The medical centre has no dengue diagnosing kits and launched a cell counter for CBC tests recently.
Sajib Dutta, a fresher of Oriental Art department, said he had to get the tests done at Birdem as the university medical centre does not have the testing kits.
“We don’t have any resources here. We will have NS1, IgG and IgM test kits by Wednesday,” Muktafi said.
To prevent dengue, dorm authorities conducted cleanliness drives and sprayed mosquito repellent on a regular basis.
Contacted, DU Proctor Prof AKM Golam Rabbani said they are concerned about the issue and working with the city corporation to curb it.
DENGUE INFECTED STUDENT STAYING IN DORM’S VERANDA
Shaheen Alam, a resident student of Salimullah Muslim Hall, is staying in the veranda despite being diagnosed with dengue.
Like other freshers, Shaheen, a student of Islamic History and Culture department, is forced to stay in the veranda due to acute shortage of seats in the dormitory.
“I went to the university medical centre six days ago, as I had fever. Two days later, I went to Dhaka Medical College Hospital as I wasn’t getting better. Later, I got the NS1 antigen test done from Birdem hospital which showed I have dengue,” Shaheen told The Daily Star.
“The doctors advised getting rest and drinking plenty of fluids. I did not stay at DMCH as I didn’t feel comfortable there due to the environment, and returned to the dormitory,” he added.
Shaheen, from Bogura, said he did not go to his village as he did not feel confident enough to travel long distance while unwell.
He said house tutors of the dorm and hall union leaders visited him yesterday.
Salimullah Hall Provost Prof Mahbubul Alam Joyarder could not be reached over phone despite repeated attempts.