Dengue cases go up outside Dhaka

There has been a rise in cases of dengue in some areas outside Dhaka as people diagnosed with the mosquito-borne disease were admitted to hospitals in the past few days.

Doctors at many government hospitals have been finding it difficult to provide treatment due to limited facilities and equipment.

Hospital sources said many dengue patients were returning from Dhaka.

In Khulna division, 71 people were infected with dengue in the last three weeks, according to divisional health department’s disease control branch.

The first case of dengue was reported there on July 7.

On July 22, there were 44 dengue patients in the division. Of them, 25 were identified in Khulna district alone.

Partha Protim Debnath, assistant registrar of Khulna Medical College Hospital, said 28 dengue patients took treatment there, while eight people are still admitted.

Atiar Rahman Sheikh, Khulna’s deputy civil surgeon, said district and upazila level hospitals have no dengue testing kits.

“We sent a request for equipment of dengue testing, but did not receive anything yet,” he said.

In the last ten days, 64 dengue patients were admitted at different hospitals in Barishal division, according to Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) and local health department.

SBMCH Director Bakir Hossain said 42 patients have been admitted at the hospital since July 16. Of them, 17 were released and 25 are undergoing treatment.

Other reported dengue cases in the division were in Barguna, Patuakhali and Bhola.

At least 106 dengue patients have been treated so far, at hospitals and clinics in Savar, on the outskirts of the capital.

This paper talked to authorities of at least ten hospitals and clinics there. They confirmed that they have dengue patients.

At Enam Medical College Hospital, 24 patients, including six children, were receiving treatment yesterday, said its duty manager Yousuf Ali.

Four new patients were admitted there as of yesterday noon, Yousuf said, adding they have so far released 33 patients.

At least 30 received treatment at Savar Upazila Health Complex, four new patients were admitted at Centre for Woman and Child Health in Ashulia, and 15 at Savar Dip Clinic.

Fourteen dengue patients were undergoing treatment at different hospitals in Sylhet division with five at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital.

The hospital’s Assistant Director Anisur Rahman said they do not have facilities to test antibody and antigen -- mandatory to detect dengue, adding that they have fixed a 12-bed dengue corner at the hospital to facilitate patients and formed a specialised team.

Debapada Roy, director of health in Sylhet, said as far as they were informed the patients were infected in Dhaka.

“As many dengue-infected people will come home ahead of Eid, the disease might spread rapidly in the region,” he added.

According to sources at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogura, 56 dengue patients were detected in Bogura since July 4.

Currently, 36 dengue patients are taking treatment at the hospital.

Its Assistant Director Arifur Rahman Talukdar said they have necessary equipment to treat dengue patients.

However, the hospital lacks doctors and dedicated beds for dengue patients, he said, adding that patients from adjacent districts also came to the hospital for treatment.

In Cumilla, at least 40 cases of dengue have been reported, according to government and private hospitals.

Amzad Hossain, a fourth year student of Bangla at Dhaka University, was infected in Dhaka, but is receiving treatment at Cumilla Medical College hospital.

“I am taking treatment here because my parents live here,” he said.

Swapan Kumar Adhikari, director of CMCH, said 27 dengue infected patients had been admitted and 19 are still receiving treatment at the hospital.

Twenty-one patients are being treated at Gazipur’s Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital, 12 at Pabna Medical College Hospital, four at Bagerhat Sadar Hospital, and 18 at different hospitals in Noakhali.

[Our district correspondents contributed to this report]