What’s the death toll from dengue?

The High Court yesterday wanted to know the number of people who died of dengue fever across the country this year.

The court asked Deputy Attorney General Kazi Mynul Hasan to inform the number of deaths on November 11.

The bench of Justice Tariq-ul Hakim and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir Lytton passed the order during hearing a suo motu (voluntary) rule issued in this regard. It also set November 11 for further hearing on this issue.

Confusion over dengue death toll was created as government and media sources were presenting different sets of information regarding the number of deaths.

Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) death review committee confirmed 112 deaths so far after reviewing 179 suspected cases, while it received 251 suspected dengue death cases.

During yesterday’s proceedings, the HC observed that authorities do not have much credit in controlling the Aedes mosquito menace.

The epidemic has reduced as the season is over, it said.

The court, however, appreciated the role of media in raising awareness among people about the mosquito menace.

It made the observation as DAG Kazi Mynul told the court that the government has taken various steps to kill the mosquitoes and to prevent dengue fever.

On August 26, newspapers reported that authorities said they would review the deaths of 89 people, amid confusion over the number of fatalities from dengue.

A committee of DGHS reviewed 80 deaths and concluded that 47 were from dengue.

Citing hospital sources, different newspapers had by then reported between 115 and 172 deaths since the outbreak.

While hearing the same rule, the HC on August 28 expressed dismay at the deaths of people from dengue fever, and directed the authorities to take more effective measures across the country to prevent the spread of Aedes mosquito -- that carries the virus.

Insecticides will have to be sprayed intensively to destroy the mosquito breeding grounds, the court said, adding that a countrywide comprehensive drive against Aedes mosquito can be launched involving people from all walks of life after closing schools, colleges, universities, offices, courts, and other institutions if necessary.

ONE DIES IN BARISHAL

A dengue patient died at Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) yesterday.

The victim was identified as Manija Begum (45), wife of Kamal Hossain, from Rajbari village under Nesarabad upazila of Pirojpur district.

Dr Bakir Hossain, director of SBMCH said Manija was admitted to the hospital on Saturday afternoon and passed away at 9am yesterday.

He said with this, the number of dengue-related deaths at SBMCH rose to 14 since July 16. A total of 2,921 dengue infected patients were admitted to the hospital so far, of whom 2, 907 have returned home.

According to DGHS, a total of 184 dengue patients were admitted to different hospitals across the country over 24 hours till 8am yesterday, of whom 119 were outside Dhaka.

A total of 97,193 dengue patients were admitted to hospitals across the country this year, of whom 49,940 were in Dhaka, according to the DGHS.

A total of 766 dengue patients are now undergoing treatment at different hospitals across the country of whom 457 are outside Dhaka.