Healthcare facilities are available to tackle dengue outbreak: DGHS

The authorities have ensured adequate healthcare facilities for dengue patients as the entire country is in the grip of the mosquito-borne disease.

"Dengue positive cases have been increasing alarmingly in the country since early July this year... we are working constantly to provide adequate healthcare facilities for dengue patients at all public hospitals across the country," Director General of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof Dr Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam told BSS.

Currently, roughly 900 beds dedicated to dengue patients are vacant at public hospitals, he said, adding "Other necessary healthcare facilities including tests have been made available for dengue patients."

Alam attributed dengue shock syndrome to the highest number of deaths this year, blaming a lack of awareness among the people.

The health service chief said second-time dengue infection with a different strain and late hospitalisation are among the main reasons for the rise in deaths this year.

"We are mapping Dhaka city to identify risky areas of dengue disease... we are taking measures accordingly to treat dengue patients and helping the organizations entrusted with mosquito management," the DGHS chief added.

According to hospital authorities, the pressure of dengue patients has decreased slightly in healthcare facilities in Dhaka city, meaning the dengue situation is in a decreasing trend in the capital city while the number of dengue cases is increasing outside Dhaka city.

"On an average, 600 dengue patients were getting admission to Mugda Medical College Hospital every day since the beginning of July . . . a huge pressure from dengue patients for admission continued till mid-August," Director of Mugda Medical College and Hospital Dr Md Niatuzzaman said.

"Almost 50 per cent of pressure from dengue disease has reduced in Mugda Medical College Hospital since mid-August," he said, adding the pressure of hospitalisation of dengue patients as well as dengue tests have decreased in the past two weeks.

Since the beginning of July this year, dengue disease has been increasing alarmingly and this increasing trend continued till the second week of August, the Mugda Hospital chief said, adding, "We have expanded treatment facilities including dengue dedicated unit to cope with an increased number of dengue patients.

Director of Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital Dr Khalilur Rahman said, "Pressure of dengue patients for both admission and other treatment is decreasing gradually... around 300 dengue patients got admitted between the beginning of July and second week of August."

In the past couple of days, on average 150 are getting admitted daily at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, he said.

Khalilur echoed authorities of other healthcare services and experts, saying dengue-positive cases are decreasing slowly due to creating awareness among the people as well as intensified efforts by relevant government organizations.

A significant number of patients are taking treatment from their homes, he said, adding dengue patients with moderate-severe and critical conditions are getting admission at hospitals.

The dengue-positive cases have been divided into three categories, Khalilur said adding, "We are suggesting the dengue patients, who suffer from fever with less health complication, to take treatments from their homes while other two categories belong to dengue fever with multiple health complications and critical patients are being admitted to the hospitals."

On September 2, Bangladesh recorded 21 dengue-related deaths, the highest number in a single day this year.

"The death toll from dengue infection crossed 600-mark as the authorities recorded 634 dengue deaths between January 1, 2023 and September 3, a press release of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said.

As of September 3, the total number of dengue patients stood at 1,30,302, the daily statement said.

August witnessed 71,976 dengue-positive cases, the highest number of cases in a single month since the dengue outbreak began in 2,000 in the country while 342 dengue-related deaths were reported in the current month, the DGHS statement said.

According to health experts, the vector-borne disease hit Dhaka city in 2000 subsequently dengue-positive cases were detected in Dhaka city only.

But the dengue disease is changing its nature and it is gradually spreading across the country, they said, adding all 64 districts of the country have witnessed dengue-positive cases.

July alone recorded 43,854 dengue-positive cases with 204 deaths, the DGHS statement read.

/KN/