Home ›› 27 Oct 2022 ›› Editorial
It is a double whammy for the country as adding to the precarious economic situation, the dengue surge has exposed the fragile health sector of the country. The dengue data of the recent days have been highly disconcerting.
According to a recent report, alluding to health authorities, published in this newspaper the country recorded over 1,000 new dengue cases across the country.
Dengue is not a new health scare! It's been with us for about a decade although the time frame for it has seen a shift. In the past, this mosquito borne disease appeared during monsoon but this year, it's seeing a recrudescence just before the onset of winter. According to the report the DGHS said shock syndrome among dengue patients is the dominant reason behind the increase in deaths this year. In 2019, dengue haemorrhage caused a huge number of deaths.
Experts have stressed the need to fumigate dengue larvae to prevent the mosquitoes from proliferating. Administrations in different cities claim it has undertaken fumigation campaigns, but most citizens have yet to see the successful effects of this anti-dengue operation. The fact is that the authorities need to shake off their lethargy, and deal with this public health emergency before it metastasises into an epidemic. Regular spraying and ensuring sanitary conditions in cities and towns can play an effective role in reducing vector-borne ailments such as dengue, malaria and chikungunya. Health authorities also need to use the mainstream and social media to communicate messages about dengue prevention.
The World Health Organisation recommends that health authorities remain actively on the lookout for reports of dengue cases and move immediately to contain and eliminate the disease from whichever area it is being reported in.
The disease drains the government and family health budget in every country and as such experts give emphasis on timely and coordinated efforts to control the disease. The WHO global strategy for dengue prevention and control, taken in 2012–2020, was aimed at responding to an emergency situation, to proactive risk assessment, early warning systems and preventive measures guided by entomological as well as epidemiological surveillance. Among the strategies vaccination is considered an important one as it can reduce morbidity and mortality.
According to health experts, a complex disease like dengue demands a multipronged, coordinated and multisectoral response under the leadership of experienced professionals. Primary disease control and municipal health experts must join the team to take an integrated approach to vector control and management.
That children and women are most vulnerable indicates that at home, necessary precautions are absent. Getting rid of stagnant water, using mosquito repellents, wearing long sleeve dresses can minimise harm. Since children remain barefoot and wear clothes that keep the arms, lower legs exposed can be the reason behind high rate of infection.
In certain areas of Dhaka, especially around Basabo, Kadamtala, which are near an open canal, residents have been reporting of abnormal increase of mosquitoes. In view of the current situation, the city corporation can take up a drive to clean the water bodies. Since almost every area in Dhaka has construction sites, real estate companies must adopt their own measures, the first of which is to deal with stagnant water.
Other measures, such as sharing information regarding when Aedes mosquitoes are most active (dawn and dusk) and how to protect oneself when sleeping outdoors can greatly help prevent a breakout. The provision of trained medical staff and appropriate drugs to alleviate symptoms will also help those infected avoid developing a serious illness. Any dengue prevention drive requires proper planning and sustained execution, and it will be up to the relevant authorities to deliver with all seriousness.
Prevention is always better than the cure, so the emphasis should be on getting rid of the dengue mosquitoes before they can infect large chunks of the populace. International best practices on fighting dengue exist which need to be reviewed by our health experts. Bangladesh has had several years to understand and come to terms with the dengue threat. The state must now prioritise public healthcare.
