BANGLADESH Dhaka, the dengue emergency grows, more than 2,000 hospitalized since January

There are five times more people infected than last year and 13 deaths. Mobilization of the Ministry of Health and prevention campaigns. The Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar is one of the worst affected areas.

Dhaka () – Cases of dengue, a viral disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes, are increasing in Bangladesh. Zahid Malik, Minister of Health and Family, explained that people infected with the virus are five times more numerous than last year. Since January, almost 2,000 people have been admitted to hospitals due to dengue. Among them, 1,269 are in the capital, Dhaka, and 631 in other centers outside the city. So far there have been 13 deaths.

At a conference organized to talk about vaccines against Covid-19, Malik also referred to the dengue emergency. Given the increase in cases, the Department of Health is taking the appropriate measures to limit contagion. “We have started to carry out surveys to monitor the situation, and doctors and nurses are being trained to act in the best way,” explained the minister. There are 2,500 professionals focused on the emergency since the beginning of the year. Malik said special wards and areas are also being set up in hospitals that are entirely dedicated to patients suffering from this disease.

Steps were also started to better disseminate information about the virus. “We have involved people from different fields. Teachers in schools have the task of informing students; the army is in charge of explaining to people how to avoid mosquito bites and what to do immediately if they have dengue symptoms,” Malik said.

As for the media, work is being done on the placement of posters and the transmission of programs on radio and television, to raise awareness among citizens. Leaflets were distributed in all 75 districts of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), and President Sheikh Fazle Noor Tapas launched the mass distribution in the Sabujbagh area.

The problem of contagion does not only affect cities, but also -for example- the refugee camps where the Rohingya are. Here, another 1,066 cases were registered between January 1 and May 23, 2023. The health minister announced that the critical point of infections is precisely in Cox’s Bazar, where one of the largest refugee camps in the world is located. country. “Specific control measures have been taken for the Rohingya camps,” Malik explained. The Department of Health is doing everything possible to make sure that dengue does not spread to the areas near the camps as well.”