Dengue: Prevention is better than cure  

A battered Bangladesh health ministry is now faced with another deadly adversary called dengue. Health experts tell us that dengue is spread by several species of female mosquito of the type Aedes Aegypti. Therefore, the first and foremost duty of us all is to ensure no such species of mosquito can grow on our compounds.

Unfortunately, steadily and surely the dengue cases are rising throughout the country with mosquito breeding spots remaining unnoticed and open. A recent Director General of Health Services (DGHS) report shows that about 2,292 patients have been diagnosed with dengue since January this year and 1,920 were diagnosed only in the month of July. There is a sharp spike in the infection rate because in the month of June diagnosed cases were only 272.   What is most alarming is that children are falling victim to the disease thereby making them most vulnerable among the total population.  Hospitals in Dhaka report a sharp rise in the number of children coming in with the symptoms of dengue.  According to DGHS data, the outbreak of dengue in the year 2019 was so far deadliest when more than 100,000 cases were recorded leading to 179 deaths. In the year 2020, 1,405 patients were diagnosed across the country with seven deaths.

Dengue, this year, has come in tandem with Covid-19 to exacerbate the already fragile healthcare system of the country. Hospitals are occupied by Covid patients hence serious dengue cases find it difficult to get admitted for treatment. As many of the symptoms of dengue and Covid are similar, it becomes difficult for the healthcare providers to diagnose in the first attempt. Reportedly, many dengue patients had run to hospitals for Covid test when their fever went up to 102 and did not come down for days. Eventually, they were diagnosed with dengue and given appropriate treatment.

According to a WHO report, dengue is caused by a virus with four distinct strands following mosquito bite. One may recover from one type and develop lifelong immunity against it, but he may fall victim to severe dengue if infected by another variant. According to DGHS and IEDCR, most dengue patients this year are being infected with DEN-3, a variant of the dengue virus that can even put the life of the patient at risk. In some cases, patients experience plasma leakage, respiratory distress and other complications.

Alongside cleaning containers in open space holding rain water, chemicals are being used to kill the larvae of the Aedes mosquito. This is the job of the city municipal corporations. But the responsibility of keeping the premises clean of these containers rests on the house owners, restaurant owners and shop owners. The battle to finish mosquitos cannot be won by the municipal corporations alone. City dwellers will have to come forward and extend their helping hands. They have to keep this in mind that carelessness may lead to death of their near ones.  Hence, we urge the citizens to follow the instructions given by the mayors of the two city corporations as to how to keep your area dengue free.  Prevention is always better than cure.