We express concern over the sudden surge in dengue infections that represent a potentially high public health threat. August and September are considered as peak months for mosquito-borne dengue disease in our country. However, the peak period has already expired 12 days ago. But dengue shows no trend to decline.
According to the Bangla calendar, two-month-long autumn is also set to disappear within a day or two. However, torrential rains throughout this month continued to inundate most of the roads, educational institutions, government and private offices, and commercial establishments in different places of the country.
Noting that an untimely heavy rainfall is occurring this year, which was not seen in the last four to five years. It is predicted that the ongoing dengue outbreak may prolong this time as a large number of Aedes mosquitoes are grown this year due to heavy rainfall.
We see no let-up in dengue fever outbreak as the number of dengue cases continues to rise in different metropolitan cities especially the capital Dhaka, towns, and remote areas of the country. This year’s death toll from the mosquito-borne disease dengue surged past 200 on Friday, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
While Some 3,522 patients are undergoing treatment at different hospitals and clinics across the country, over 490 new dengue patients got admitted to different hospitals till Frida.
A total of 40,895 dengue cases have been reported since January 1, 2024. Last year, 1,705 people lost their lives due to dengue, making it the deadliest year on record, with 321,179 cases recorded.
Ongoing dengue
outbreak may prolong this time as a
large number of Aedes
mosquitoes are grown this year due to heavy
rainfall.
A total of 10 teams under the Local Government Division (LGD) are working to control the spread of dengue as both infection and fatality rates have increased sharply during the current month.
Of the ten teams, four are working in DSCC areas while three in DNCC and one each in Narayanganj, Gazipur and Chattogram city corporation areas. Besides, a separate team was formed for working in the high-risk areas and municipalities, including Savar, Dohar, Tarabo and Rupganj.
But the authorities concerned completely failed to control the spread of dengue. It is feared dengue cases and deaths will exceed all previous records this year as the number of cases and fatalities continue to rise, signaling an alarming trend.
Rising temperatures and a longer monsoon in the country because of climate change are providing ideal breeding conditions for the dengue-spreading mosquito.
When the authorities of DSCC and DNCC continue claiming that their respective officials and councilors remain active in the field to eradicate Aedes mosquitoes, the infection continues to keep rising as people with dengue fever are being admitted to hospitals. It is not possible to eradicate Aedes mosquitoes without destroying the source.
City corporations and people will have to work together for destroying the breeding grounds and other sources of the Aedes mosquito. Besides, the city corporations must control the spread of dengue immediately at any cost.
On the other hand, we have noticed that even after repeated warnings, people are not becoming aware. The city corporations will not be able to protect the people unless they are aware of it.
The city dwellers must discharge their responsibilities properly along with city corporations, otherwise there is a risk that dengue could overwhelm healthcare systems.
The city dwellers and city corporations should work together in order to clean all possible breeding grounds of Aedes mosquito to prevent any outbreak of dengue in the city and its outskirts.
