Dhaka: So, like, in the past few months, the density of Aedes mosquitoes has, like, totally increased compared to the previous month. Along with that, the number of dengue patients and deaths related to Aedes mosquitoes has also gone up.
Experts are, like, worried that the situation of dengue this year will be even more complex. They’re, like, saying that if effective coordinated efforts to prevent dengue are not taken quickly, the rate of infection will increase and the number of deaths will escalate. The number of patients outside Dhaka is also, like, increasing significantly this year. If the City Corporation, Municipalities, and individual initiatives don’t take action, the dengue situation could deteriorate at a dangerous rate.
According to the information sent from the Health Emergency Operations Center and Control Room of the Health Department, like, on Tuesday (May 20), another person died of dengue in the past 24 hours and 101 more people have been admitted to various hospitals in the country due to dengue. In the past 24 hours, another person has died due to dengue, and so far this year, 23 people have died from dengue.
Among the dengue patients admitted to hospitals in the past 24 hours, 42 are in Barishal Division (outside the City Corporation), 15 in Chittagong Division (outside the City Corporation), 6 in Dhaka Division (outside the City Corporation), 10 in Dhaka North City Corporation, 24 in Dhaka South City Corporation, 2 in Khulna Division (outside the City Corporation), 1 in Rangpur Division (outside the City Corporation), and 1 in Mymensingh Division (outside the City Corporation).
Until May 20 of the current year, a total of 3,637 people have been affected by dengue. Among them, 60.0 percent are male and 40.0 percent are female. From January 1 to May 20 of the previous year, a total of 2,655 people were admitted to hospitals due to dengue, and during the same period, 33 people died due to dengue.
From January 1 to May 20 of 2023, a total of 1,414 people were admitted to hospitals due to dengue, and during the same period, 12 people died due to dengue. From January 1 to May 20 of 2022, a total of 234 people were admitted to hospitals due to dengue, and during the same period, no one died due to dengue.
Analyzing the data from the past three years, it can be seen that the number of dengue cases is higher this year compared to the previous three years. Moreover, the number of deaths is also higher after 2024.
Experts are, like, saying that since the number of dengue cases is higher this year, taking effective measures to prevent dengue from now on is crucial to avoid a worsening dengue situation.
The advisor to the government’s Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), Dr. Mushtaq Hossain, like, said that the dengue serotype Den-2 was active last year or the year before, and if it remains active this year, fewer dengue patients will be found. If any new serotypes like Den-1, 4, or 3 are more prevalent, then more dengue patients will be found and the number of severe cases will increase.
Dr. Kabirul Bashar, a professor of Entomology and researcher at Jahangirnagar University, like, said that from now on, Aedes mosquitoes will increase regularly. When it rains and water accumulates in various places, and if we can’t regularly drain that water, the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes will increase, leading to more dengue cases.
To know how the current density of Aedes mosquitoes is, he said, “We are now getting a slightly higher density of Aedes from this time last year, so we assume that if we don’t take action in advance, the dengue situation next year could be bad.”
To take advanced measures, the researcher added, “First, waste management needs to be done properly. City Corporations and Municipalities need to do their jobs correctly. We need to make sure that no containers are left with water and if water is accumulating in containers, we need to ensure that they are being drained regularly. If we can’t drain the containers, then we need to use insecticides. Also, even at the personal level, we need to ensure that water does not accumulate in flower pots in garages or parking areas.”
So, like, it’s pretty clear that dengue is a serious issue that needs immediate attention. The increasing number of cases and deaths should be taken seriously, and proactive measures should be implemented to prevent further spread of the disease. Like, let’s hope that the authorities and individuals take necessary actions to combat dengue effectively.