Dengue in Bangladesh: Tally tops 10,000, Dhaka University protests

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews

The total number of dengue fever cases in Bangladesh through July 27 this year has surpassed the the total for all of 2018, according to the latest numbers from Bangladeshi officials.

A total of 10,528 people have been infected with the mosquito-borne disease to date. Last year, the total number was 10,148, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Eight deaths have been recorded according to officials statistics; however, media counts put the tally at 25.

In addition, nearly 400 of the cases have been reported outside of Dhaka with a sharp rise in dengue cases in the past two days.

The situation is straining hospital resources as they struggle to accommodate a growing number of dengue patients.

Hospitals in Dhaka are packed with dengue patients so much amid the outbreak that their relatives have to rush from one hospital to another to get their loved ones urgent medical attention.

At Dhaka University, students are burning effigies of the health minister and mayors of Dhaka south and north city corporation demanding their resignation over “failure in controlling dengue outbreak”.

In addition, hundreds of students in Jahangirnagar University today protested against the inaction of the university authorities amid the ongoing dengue outbreak in the city.

Some key activities the government are taking include:

More than 2,000 doctors and nurses trained on dengue and chikungunya management

National treatment guidelines developed, both in detail and short versions

Guidelines shared electronically and uploaded in DGHS website

Letters sent to all hospitals to ensure treatment according to guideline and daily reporting

More than 22,000 Dengue Diagnosis kits (NS1) distributed to public hospitals

Aedes surveys conducted thrice-in-a-year as part of vector surveillance

TV Scroll with awareness messages in electronic media

Ad in daily newspapers with preventive messages

Leaflets distributed to raise community awareness

National Technical Committee for Aedes-transmitted diseases formed



