Bangla Press Desk: The increasing number of dengue infections in the country is feared to rise further in September while the dengue season might prolong until the end of October this year, said entomologists.
The number of the dengue patients in a single day is also feared to cross 1,000 mark in the coming September while the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Saturday registered 996 new hospitalisations due to the mosquito-borne disease.
The dengue caseload rose to 33,586 since January with 90 deaths, including two on Saturday.
The total caseload is higher than the previous year. It was 30,541 until this corresponding period last year. However, 118 people died last year in the same corresponding months until August 29, according to the DGHS.
Of the total, this August alone reported 18,276 dengue hospitalisations, highest until now with almost double than July-9,206. However, July and August (until Saturday) both reported 36 deaths each month.
In the country, the dengue infection mainly spreads during the rainy season between June and September. However, due to the changing weather and climate change, the dengue situation is prolonged and becoming severe. The infection would start decreasing in November, they added.
Prof Kabirul Bashar, a medical entomologist at Jahangirnagar University, told the FE that the daily infections could see further rise in September with over one thousand infections daily. And, the worsening situation may prolong until October.
The daily infection would start decreasing since November. The August to October period has now become the peak of dengue infection in the country, prolonging the season," he added.
The changing weather and climate change are among the major causes of the prolonging season of the disease, according to the expert.
Since the daily infection rate rises, the number of hospitalisations will ultimately increase further and lead to fatalities if the patients remain untreated and fail to hospitalise in due time.
Bangladesh remains the deadliest country in the world in terms of the death rate due to dengue, said Prof Bashar, suggesting reducing the infection as without this the number of hospitalisation and fatalities would not be controlled.
The entomologist blamed the treatment seeking behaviour of the patient in the country particularly the dengue patients.
"Dengue is usually not something that claims life if the patient is treated rightly. But patients tend to come to hospitals late in many cases at the last stage when platelet drops to extremely low level, and other critical health factors drop significantly," he explained.
He, however, explained that the costly treatment, financial status of the patients and poor healthcare system and unclean environment are among the major causes behind the behaviour.
Over the improving situation he said that rain and waterlogging are the main factors behind worsening dengue situation in the country while the weather remains a major contributor to the situation.
The improvement of the situation lies with the anti-dengue campaign and cleaning measure and their success, Prof Bashar added.
The uninterrupted rainfall throughout June and July has created favourable breeding conditions for mosquitoes.
Stagnant water in residential areas and under-construction buildings provides breeding grounds for mosquitoes, while it takes around eight weeks for larvae to develop into adult mosquitoes.
He urged people to seek medical attention early and follow treatment protocols, including adequate fluid and oral saline intake, particularly if patients experience vomiting.
While praising the government's preparedness in hospitals and mosquito-control initiatives, he stressed that stronger community participation is essential to bring the outbreak under control.Sourcing Government Grants
