Nine more deaths were reported from dengue in 24 hours till Tuesday morning, raising the fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh to 1,190 this year.
During the period, 2,609 more patients were hospitalised with the viral fever, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Of the new patients, 561 were admitted to hospitals in Dhaka and the rest outside the capital--indicating a worsening situation across the country, DGHS said.
A total of 8,224 dengue patients, including 2,410 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across country.
So far, the DGHS has recorded 244,698 dengue cases and 235,284 recoveries this year.
September has so far been the deadliest month for the dengue outbreak this year with 396 fatalities and 79,598 cases, according to DGHS data.
‘Long-term plan to curb dengue’
Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Tuesday said mosquito control is needed to curb dengue and the city corporations and the municipalities should take long term programmes in this regard.
The health minister said these while speaking at a press briefing at the secretariat.
Replying to a question about any negligence in dengue control, Zahid said “It would be logical if you (journalists) ask this question to the municipalities or city corporations. It is the responsibility of those who exterminate mosquitoes, those who clear garbage and drains, and those who transport garbage. It is not the responsibility of the health ministry.”
"If you talk big, dengue will not decrease. Necessary steps should be taken to control dengue. The steps being taken are not enough. If those were enough, 250,000 people would not have been affected by this disease. So far, 1,100 people have died of dengue,” he added.
Claiming that there is no accommodation and medical services problem, the minister said separate units have been opened in the hospitals in districts and upazilas to provide healthcare and there is sufficient fluid and saline as the government gave approvals to the private agencies to import saline if needed.
He also claimed that there is no negligence on the part of the ministry in providing healthcare services to the people amid dengue surge.
