Dhaka residents helpless as dengue deaths rise
Dengue fever has gripped Dhaka and 11 have died of the disease so far between April and July this year, according to a member of the eight-member death committee of Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).
On Friday morning the member of the committee told Prothom Alo, 14 deaths were observed between April and July, of which 11 were dengue-related.
In the corresponding period last year, seven had died of dengue. However, the actual dengue death toll is higher than the government’s official statistics, according to experts.
Tafif Tawrat was just seven months old when he first contacted dengue. Now at three and a half years of age, he is suffering from dengue again and on 7 July was admitted to a hospital in the capital city.
His father Mohiuddin told Prothom Alo, “I am helpless. My son has already had dengue twice at such an early age. I pay my taxes regularly yet the mayor can’t kill the mosquitoes. I hear the chemicals used to kill the mosquitoes are ineffective. The government couldn’t be bothered. Why should we have to pay so much to the hospitals because of the government’s failure?”
Medical specialists say this time the dengue outbreak is alarming.
According to the Health Emergency Operation Centre and Control Room of the government’s health directorate, in the first 12 days of July this year, 1,643 persons dengue patients were admitted to government and private hospitals. That means, on average 137 dengue patients were being admitted to hospital every day. The number of actual dengue patients is much higher.
Deaths on the rise
According to the health directorate, two dengue patients died in April this year. Another one died on 1 July. The government admits to the death of these three, but has not disclosed anything further.
The eight-member death committee of IEDCR has confirmed deaths due to dengue, chikungunia and some other diseases. This committee’s members include members of IEDCR’s regular monitoring committee, virus experts, medicine experts and paediatricians.
IEDCR director professor Meerzadi Sabrina yesterday, Friday, told Prothom Alo the committee confirms the number and cause of deaths and submits recommendations. She avoided giving any specific number of deaths, saying, “You will be informed next week.”
Another member of the committee said that the 11 patients had been treated at various hospitals, changing the hospitals for better treatment when needed. In the first week of July, a physician died on dengue in one of the large private hospitals of the city. He had first been undergoing treatment in the different private hospital of the city.
Actual deaths much more
The health directorate’s control room, on its website on Friday stated that there were 1059 patients admitted to hospital for dengue. However, the number of the patients in each listed hospital has not been accurately given.
One of the hospitals named on this list is Green Life Hospital on Green Road. Assistant director of Green Life Hospital Nazia Huq told Prothom Alo on Friday, there were 35 dengue patients in the hospital, 15 of whom were children.
Universal Medical College and Hospital also on the list, has 26 dengue patients, of whom seven were children.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Medical University (BSMMU)’s resident physician Hasan Imam said every day at least 50 dengue patients are being treated.
The health directorate is unable to collect facts and figures from all hospitals. The information is incomplete. Again, many dengue patients are not admitted to hospital and simply visit physicians’ chambers for treatment. No one has the accurate numbers of such patients. It is evident that the situation is alarming.
Anxiety arises
Speaking to Prothom Alo over mobile phone on Friday, Dhaka North City Corporation mayor Atiqul Islam said that a consultancy meeting has been called this week with experts on health and environment, scientists, researchers and others. A decision will be taken at the meeting to change the insecticide being used to kill mosquitoes. Recommendations will also be gathered about giving a sense of relief to the people of the city.
Dhaka Medical College’s professor Khan Abdul Kalam Azad said that the dengue situation in Dhaka was alarming. Speaking to Prothom Alo, he said, “Dengue first hit this city in 2000. I have been working with this institution since 2009. At present every day 30 to 35 dengue patients are admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. There had never been before such a large number of dengue patients.”
Dengue and chikungunia are becoming public health menaces during the rainy season. Dhaka’s residents depend on the extermination of mosquitoes. They look to the government to regularly use insecticide to rid the city of the pests. The insecticide being used by Dhaka City Corporation is ineffective and is creating fresh concern among the people.
* This report appeared in the print edition of Prothom Alo and has been rewritten in English by Ayesha Kabir