Dengue cases on rise in Chattogram

The number of dengue cases is on the rise in Chattogram with 25 persons, according to an estimate, being already affected by the mosquito-borne viral disease in the port city.

The unprecedented outbreak of dengue has created a sense of panic among the general public in Chattogram.

On Sunday 15 new dengue cases were detected in the city, said Chattogram Medical College Hospital deputy director Akhterul Islam.

He said that they had opened dengue corners in their hospital for proper treatment and observation of the patients who would be admitted to the facility.

Dengue patients are having treatment in three blocks of the hospital.

Hosne Ara Begum, 70, from Muradpur area under treatment at a CMCH dengue corner said that she had been suffering from dengue since Thursday.

She said that she caught the virus while visiting Dhaka recently.

Some other patients there, too, said that they also visited the capital before being affected.

Contrarily, four dengue patients from the same building at Hazaribagh in the city, who have been undergoing treatment at CMCH, said that none of them had gone to Dhaka before they were infected.

Chattogram civil surgeon Azizur Rahman Siddiqui, however, said that most of the dengue patients of the port city had visited Dhaka and had come back with the disease.

The civil surgeon office said that till August 4, a total 141 patients were admitted to different hospitals of Chattogram excluding CMCH.

According to previous records, 177 people were affected by dengue in Chattogram in 2018 while the number was 66 in 2017.

Only five people were affected by the disease in six months from January to June this year but the number increased significantly in July, said the civil surgeon.

He said that no death from dengue had yet been reported in the port city.

Not only in Chattogram city, many people in Chandanaish, Patiya, Boalkhali, Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Sitakunda, Hathazari and Satkania have also been suffering from dengue, said officials.

Chattogram deputy civil surgeon GM Tayab Ali said that they had opened a dengue control room to monitor the situation, provided special training to young medical officers, arranged free dengue tests and formed medical teams in 15 upazila health complexes.

Besides, Chattogram city mayor AJM Nasir Uddin announced that the city corporation would give free treatment to poor patients.

Chattogram district administration is also running an awareness campaign to check the spread of dengue.

The upazila nirbahi officers were asked to follow the same activities in every upazila of the district.

 On July 15 the CCC carried out a crash programme to kill aedes mosquitoes.

However, seeking anonymity a few councilors alleged that no CCC ward had more than two fogger machines.

A minimum of six people are needed for two fogger and one spray machines but CCC does not have six people in all wards, they said.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net