Dengue spike rings caution

A total of 7,978 dengue cases were recorded till June this year. The number was only 2,204 for the first six months of 2019, the year Bangladesh witnessed 1,01,354 cases, the highest number of infections in the country so far.

Alarmingly, 3,327 cases were recorded in the first week of July.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services, 1,884 dengue cases were recorded in June 2019, with the numbers rising to 16,253 in July, and 52,636 in August.

The figures, however, started declining towards the end of monsoon, dropping to 16,556 in September, 8,143 in October, 4,011 in November, and 1,249 in December. The dengue death toll was 179 that year.

Meanwhile, one dengue patient died while 182 others were hospitalised in the last 24 hours till yesterday morning, according to DGHS.

The dengue death toll this year stands at 65.

Stressing the need for hotspot management, entomologist Prof Kabirul Bashar of Jahangirnagar University urged initiating drives in areas where dengue infection rate is dominant.

"Killing adult mosquitoes is essential in those areas where they are most likely to be carrying the virus. Each of us should take the responsibility of checking for stagnant water sources around their residences, especially open spaces and yards, at least once every week to keep those from becoming Aedes breeding grounds," he said.

Hospitalisation is necessary when infected for the second time, as these patients are more vulnerable, he added.

HM Nazmul Ahsan, associate professor at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, advised residents to keep windows and doors shut in the morning and evening, as Aedes mosquitoes are normally active during these periods.

"People should get tested as soon as they show early symptoms of the disease, which include fever, severe stomach ache, nausea, difficulty breathing, and blood in nose, gums, vomit or stool. Repellents may prove to be beneficial," he added.

According to Nazmul Ahsan, there is a high possibility of a patient reaching a critical stage within 24-48 hours of showing these signs. However, immediate treatment can help most patients if get hospitalised on time.

"Patients suffering from cardiac, kidney, and liver complications and cancer, and pregnant women have to be taken under special supervision," he added.

According to National University entomologist GM Saifur Rahman, the mosquito population tends to grow steadily over time.

"Untimely rains and extended monsoons contribute to the year-round transmission of the disease. Moreover, 70-80 percent of dengue patients are asymptomatic (producing or showing no symptoms), and their infection can only be detected via Serosurveillance.

Serosurveillance is a blood test that checks for the presence of antibodies against a particular disease.

"Laboratory-based active surveillance systems are required for this process. However, we don't have any such facilities. Effective insecticides, surveillance systems, and control measures are essential to combating dengue," he added.