Record 560 new dengue cases in a day

The alarming condition of dengue infection has further deteriorated as 560 new patients were admitted to different public and private hospitals mainly in Dhaka and Khulna on Wednesday.

“This is the highest number of dengue infected patients hospitalised in the country so far,” Dr Ayesha Akter, assistant director of health emergency operations centres and control room of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), told The Business Standard.

Since January this year, 8,565 patients have been admitted to public and private hospitals till Wednesday.

DGHS data shows, 1,322 people were infected with dengue from April to July last year.

This year, the number of the infected is almost six times the number from previous year.

On average, 154 people are infected every day this year.

Official data shows eight dengue patients have died so far.

But unofficial sources claimed that about 3.5 lakh people have been infected with dengue fever this year, of which about 26 died.

The sources said the DGHS collected data from public hospitals and some private hospitals.

Butinformation about the patients taking treatment atmany private hospitals and private chambers remainsout of the list.

According to the World Health Organisation, around 570,400 people were infected with dengue fever last year whereas this year, from January to July, the number has already reached almost 350,000.