Dengue situation keeps getting worse

Just the first three days of October, till Monday, saw six people die from dengue and 1,728 being hospitalised across the country. In September alone, 34 died and 9,911 were admitted to hospitals.

This situation indicates an even worse time ahead, that is if proper measures are not taken to control Aedes mosquitoes. Experts pointed to inadequate initiatives to destroy Aedes hotspots and favourable weather for mosquitoes to breed for October's situation.

They strongly urged authorities to take proper steps to control Aedes mosquitoes.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), one dengue patient died, while 525 were hospitalised in the last 24 hours till 8:00am Monday. With the new cases, total patients have risen to 17,820, while the death toll is 61 this year.

Entomologist Prof Kabirul Bashar of Jahangirnagar University said every year in October, dengue cases start going down. But this time, the rising trend will continue.

It is not possible to control dengue without managing the hotspots. This year, authorities took inadequate measures to find and manage these sites, said Kabirul.

"Hotspot management means identifying risky houses and areas by collecting addresses of dengue patients," he explained.

Authorities will have to kill adult Aedes mosquitoes and their larvae at these sites, and build awareness among residents, he added.

Entomologist GM Saifur Rahman of Bangladesh National University said as short-term activities, authorities will have to conduct surveys in risky areas to find symptomatic or mild dengue patients and bring them under care.

They will also have to conduct intensive control operations in those areas to kill mosquitoes and build public awareness.

The public should also take personal measures to protect themselves by using mosquito repellent and wearing clothes that cover arms, he said.

As a long-term plan, Saifur suggested the government guide municipalities and district authorities properly.

"Implementing the Sustainable Integrated Vector Management System under the central government is essential to control Aedes mosquitoes," he said.

Last month, Dhaka North City Corporation Chief Health Officer Brig Gen Md Zobaidur Rahman said apart from regular and special drives, they have purchased 30 boats to clean waterbodies and use insecticides properly.

Md Abu Nasher, public relations officer of Dhaka South City Corporation, said besides routine drives, they are taking different measures to control Aedes mosquitoes, including drives around houses of dengue patients.

Dr Md Ekramul Haque, deputy programme manager of malaria and ATD control programme at DGHS, said they have already sent dengue diagnosing kits to every upazila and asked all hospital authorities to arrange separate wards for patients if necessary.

A monsoon survey of DGHS, conducted between August 11and 23, found the presence of Aedes mosquitoes in 13.4 percent of houses under DNCC and 11.75 percent of homes under DSCC.