Published on 01:34 PM, August 13, 2019

5 die of dengue fever in 2 days

Nurses treat patients infected with dengue at the Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on August 2, 2019. File photo/ Reuters/ Mohammad Ponir Hossain

Five people have died of dengue fever in the last two days in Dhaka, Laxmipur, Khulna and Pabna districts.

The government has so far confirmed the death of 40 people from dengue although the unofficial estimates suggest the death toll is much higher.

In Pabna, a college boy died of dengue at Pabna Medical College Hospital last night.

This is the first death incident from dengue in the district, our Pabna correspondent reports quoting hospital sources.

The victim Mosabbir Hossain Mahfuz, 20, was admitted to the hospital with symptoms of dengue yesterday morning, Assistant Director of Pabna Medical College Hospital Dr Ranjan Kumar Dutta.

Mahfuz was admitted to the hospital in a critical condition and despite frantic efforts, he could not be saved, the official said.

A total of 46 dengue infected patients are undergoing treatment at Pabna Medical College Hospital while filing this report.

A total of 245 dengue patients got admitted to the hospital in the last three weeks, according to sources at the hospital.

In Dhaka, an eight-year-old girl died of dengue fever at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital yesterday, said Prof Dr Uttam Kumar Barua, director of the hospital.

Deceased Samia, 8, was admitted to the hospital on August 10 and passed away around 6:00am today, the director said.

At present, 407 patients diagnosed with dengue fever are being treated at the hospital, he added. 

Another patient Md Billal, 40, died around 4:00am today at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. He was undergoing treatment for dengue, according to hospital sources.

In Laxmipur, Parash, 4, son of Kamruzzaman of Daspara area in Kamalnagar upazila of the district, died of dengue on Monday night while he was being taken to Noakhali General Hospital, reports UNB.

Parash’s uncle Md Ibrahim said his nephew was diagnosed with dengue at Fair Diagnostic Pathology Centre in Laxmipur town on Saturday morning.

Dr Morshed Alam Hiru, a child specialist at Laxmipur Sadar Hospital, said he suggested the guardians to shift Parash to Noakhali General Hospital. “He died around 10:00pm while being taken there,” Hiru said.

Over 148 dengue patients were admitted to Laxmipur Sadar Hospital in the last 18 days till Monday noon.

In Khulna, a man died of dengue at Khulna Medical College Hospital yesterday morning. 

The deceased was identified as Rasel, 32, a resident of Gopalganj, UNB reports quoting doctors.

Khulna Civil Surgeon Abdur Razzak said Rasel was hospitalised with dengue two days ago.

Until Monday morning, 429 dengue cases were reported in Khulna, while 149 are currently hospitalised, the DGHS said.

But the government insists that there has been no dengue-related death in the district so far this year.

Bangladesh is struggling to control its worse outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease as an increasing number of patients put tremendous pressure on the country’s already overwhelmed medical system.

At least 2,093 new patients were hospitalised across the country in 24 hours till Monday morning.

Since January, 43,271 people were admitted to hospitals, according to the Directorate General of Health Services. Of them, 35,225 had made full recovery. Currently, more than 8,000 patients, including children, are being treated at hospitals.