Dengue knocking at the door

Hardly have we started effectively addressing the COVID-19 virus that has taken the form of a pandemic, when we have the distressing news of the onset of dengue in the country. A report in this paper shows that the deadly fever has already started affecting the people. The number of patients admitted in various hospitals in the country with this fever has quadrupled in comparison to the number of dengue affected during the same time last year. Recent data from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) shows that as of March 16, 263 patients have already been admitted to hospitals across the country, compared to last year's March figure of 73. If numbers are the measure of things to come, this bodes very badly for us unless we prepare ourselves well.

Unfortunately, we always prepare for the previous epidemic, the previous crisis, and not the one likely to visit us in future. And it is not quite unusual that this is happening while it is still the dry season. Unfortunately, the authorities fail to see the changes in the pattern of dengue occurrence in the country and wait for the monsoon to take action. In fact, a research shows that during 2015–2017, in the pre-monsoon season, the dengue cases were reported to be more than seven times higher compared to the previous 14 years.

Every year, we are given assurances by the two city corporations and relevant agencies that adequate actions would be taken to prevent the experience of the past. Yet the next is worse than the previous. The majority of cases of dengue last year, which had taken an epidemic form, were in Dhaka city. And the record of the city in fighting the menace was poor, so much so that the pressure came down heavily last year on the city corporations to take effective measures. Experts are calling for early countermeasures to destroy the vector of this disease, the aedes mosquitoes. The anti-dengue drive must be planned and conducted centrally. And among other things, intense participation of the people will be an important element in combating the disease. This must be ensured by the authorities.