Khulna still reeling under the effect of dengue

The number of dengue patients at hospitals across the country has been decreasing over the last few days but Khulna division has recorded 100 cases of dengue in the last 24 hours, and 500 patients are still reeling under the effect of dengue. 

According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 408 more new patients were hospitalised with the mosquito-borne disease in 24 hours till Saturday. Of them, 135 patients have been admitted to hospitals in Dhaka, while 273 are undergoing treatment in hospitals outside Dhaka.  

Excluding Dhaka city Khulna has been identified as the division with the highest number of dengue patients. 

Currently 40 new patients have been admitted to hospitals for dengue in the last 24 hours in Jashore, the highest in Khulna division. About 195 dengue patients are also undergoing treatment at hospitals in Jashore.    

According to the DGHS, among dengue patients who are receiving treatment in hospitals, 299 are in Dhaka, 32 in Mymensingh, 168 in Chattogram, 101 in Rajshahi, 36 in Rangpur, 187 in Barishal and 12 are in Sylhet division.

"The number of dengue patients is rising outside Dhaka. We hope that the number of dengue patients will decrease in Khulna," Dr Ayesha Akter, an assistant director at the Directorate General of Health Services, said.

According to DGHS sources, 2,252 dengue patients are undergoing treatment at different government and private hospitals across the country.

Of them, 917 dengue patients are receiving treatment in 41 government and private hospitals in Dhaka and 1,335 patients are at district-level hospitals.

Since January, 84,397 people were hospitalised with dengue. Among them, 81,942 returned home after getting treatment.

The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) received reports of 203 suspected deaths caused by dengue. 

However, reviewing 116 cases, the IEDCR confirmed 68 people died of dengue, said the directorate.