Dengue claims two more lives

Two more dengue patients died while at least 278 more were hospitalised in the last 24 hours till 8am yesterday which points to the fast-rising trend of the disease, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Among the 278 new cases of dengue infection, 48 are from outside Dhaka, according to the DGHS.

With the new cases, a total of 5,917 people were diagnosed in this month out of the total 8,853 infected.

According to DGHS, 40 people have died of dengue infection this year so far. Among the infected, 1,090 are still undergoing treatment at hospitals in Dhaka, and 103 outside the capital.

Meanwhile, Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives (LGRD) minister Md Tazul Islam yesterday urged city dwellers to be careful so that rooftop gardens do not become Aedes mosquito breeding grounds.

He made the comments while speaking an an inter-ministerial meeting at LGD conference room.

He also unveiled a national guideline on preventive measures for mosquito borne diseases at the meeting.

The LGRD minister also said stagnant water due to early monsoon was favourable for Aedes mosquito breeding this year. He said breeding grounds were created at educational institutions which remained closed this year due to the pandemic.

He suggested residents to use insecticides or kerosene if they cannot clean rooftop gardens regularly. 

The minister said they are working to form an Integrated Vector Management Cell to keep people safe from mosquito borne diseases.

He said they have already made insecticides available in the market, and allowed businesses to import them. This is a marked improvement from the earlier system, under which only one company could import insecticide, said the minister.

Suggesting Dhaka Cantonment Board, Civil Aviation Authority Bangladesh, and Bangladesh Railway to monitor their anti-mosquito drives, the minister said they will be held responsible if Aedes mosquito larvae are found at inside their restricted areas.

Tazul said they have informed public and private hospitals to provide information to city corporations regarding dengue patients so that effective measures to contain Aedes mosquitoes can be enacted immediately.

Among others, Dhaka North City Corporation mayor Md Atiqul Islam, Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, and Gazipur City Corporation mayor Jahangir Alam were present at the meeting.