Dhaka, Aug 21 – Four more patients died of dengue in Dhaka and Barisal on Thursday, as hospitals across the country admitted a large number of dengue patients every day.
A total of 1,597 dengue patients were admitted to different hospitals in the last 24 hours across the country. With the latest fatalities, the official death toll rose to 47, which is much lower than the unofficial tally of at least 106 deaths this year.
According to unofficial figures, at least 71 people have died of dengue this month (till August 22). Of the new cases in the past 24 hours, a total of 761 patients had been hospitalised in Dhaka, whereas 836 patients had been admitted outside Dhaka.
According to the Directorate-General of Health Services (DGHS), the number of recorded cases in the first eight months of this year has hit 59,592.
Among the dengue victims was Gias Uddin, 40, son of Abdul Awal, from Matlab Upazila of Chandpur District, died at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) yesterday.
He used to live in Postogola area of the city. He was admitted to the Hospital on Wednesday.
The second deceased, Monir Hossain, 38, son of Shahjahan Mia of Mehendiganj upazila of the Barishal district. He was diagnosed and hospitalized with dengue at Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) on Sunday. He died while undergoing treatment yesterday.
The third dengue-victim was Nasima Begum, a house maker, from Gaurnadi Upazila of Barishal district, died of dengue while she was being taken to Dhaka for better treatment.
And the fourth deceased, a farmer Abdul Gaffar, 52, son of late Akkaj Miah, from Manirampur Upazila of Jessore district, died of dengue on Wednesday.
He was admitted to the Jessore general Hosptial, later he was referred to the Ad-Din Hospital in the capital for better treatment, where he breathed his last.
A total of 53,398 patients have already been released from hospitals. This means, around 90 per cent of the hospitalised dengue patients have gone home after treatment.
The number of admitted patients currently undergoing treatment in government and private hospitals combined is 6,147, according to the DGHS data.
As many as 3,332 patients are currently receiving treatment in 41 government and private hospitals in the capital, whereas a total of 2,815 patients are undergoing treatment outside the capital, the data added.
Dr Ayesha Akhter, in-charge of the disease control room, at the Directorate of Health said that we’ve received a record number of dengue patients from across the country so far. This month the number of dengue cases is much higher than that of last month.
She also said the health department had taken several initiatives to control the situation. “If the initiatives taken by the DGHS work properly, the number of dengue patients will hopefully decrease soon,” she added.
Ayesha said following a review of 80 cases of death, the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) confirmed a total of 47 deaths due to dengue.
This year’s pre-monsoon rainfall has caused an increase in the number of dengue patients compared to last year’s.
Prof. Sania Tahmina, director (disease control unit) at the DGHS, said: “The number of dengue patients is decreasing gradually. Hopefully, the number of cases won’t increase further.”- Staff Reporter
