Escalating dengue situation

In the last five months, the country has witnessed a distressing surge in the number of dengue cases, marking a grave public health crisis. Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne viral disease, has been spreading rapidly, affecting thousands of people and straining the already burdened healthcare system. This alarming trend demands immediate attention from both the government and the general public to mitigate the impact of this escalating situation.

The statistics paint a bleak picture of the current dengue situation. Over the past five months, the number of reported cases has skyrocketed, surpassing previous years’ records.

According to a report by The Business Post, quoting Health Minister Zahid Maleque, the Dengue situation is taking a turn for the worse with increases in cases and more deaths than 2022. The number of dengue patients has increased fivefold compared to the first five months of the previous year.

Though the Dhaka city corporations are constantly reassuring us that drives for public awareness and prevention are being conducted, they are clearly inadequate. While the city corporations can enter known dengue patients’ homes and eradicate Aedes larvae from there, they cannot go into fenced under-construction buildings, which are one of the primary breeding grounds of the Aedes mosquito, meaning that the number of mosquitoes continues to rise.

The responsibility of mosquito control in Dhaka city lays with the two city corporations. However, their efforts of eradicating mosquito’s breeding grounds do not seem to have worked at all. The dengue outbreak has become a seasonal epidemic for us. But the authorities concerned have not yet been able to find a way to contain it. It is high time they looked for an effective measure to tackle dengue.

One of the primary reasons for this surge is the inadequate preparedness and response to dengue outbreaks. Despite experiencing periodic dengue outbreaks in the past, the country’s efforts to control the disease have fallen short. Insufficient funding, limited public awareness campaigns, and a lack of effective mosquito control measures have contributed to the worsening situation.

With more and more breeding grounds of the mosquito variety Aedes egypti—responsible for causing dengue infection—being identified, an outbreak seems only a matter of time. It is essential to educate communities about the causes, symptoms, and preventive measures related to dengue. This includes emphasizing the significance of eliminating stagnant water sources, practicing personal protection measures like using mosquito nets and repellents, and seeking timely medical attention.

According to experts, climate change effects, intermittent rain, patterns of weather and lack of cleanliness were the main reasons for this increase in dengue cases. The escalating dengue crisis exposes the vulnerabilities in Bangladesh’s healthcare system. It is imperative to strengthen the capacity of healthcare facilities to handle the increasing influx of dengue patients. Hospitals and clinics must be equipped with adequate medical supplies, trained healthcare professionals, and enhanced diagnostic capabilities. Furthermore, the government should explore partnerships with international organizations and neighbouring countries to share knowledge, expertise, and resources to better manage and control the outbreak.

The government must realise the gravity and accumulated cost of a prolonged dengue situation and take immediate action to contain its spread. It must implement the suggestions made by the WHO experts and local specialists on various occasions. The government should also direct all hospitals and health complexes to remain prepared to provide necessary treatment to incoming dengue patients and monitor whether they comply with all directives. Equally importantly, it should regularly conduct mosquito repellent drives as well as awareness programmes across the country. There is no reason to downplay the danger that dengue poses to public health.