Health authorities mull declaing emergency after 114 deaths from dengue in first 6 months of year
Yesterday, a peak of 8 deaths in one day was reached, with more than 1,500 people hospitalized. Unlike in the past, the spread of the virus has not stopped in the past two years. Two Catholic girls were also among the victims. Experts say the national figures do not reflect the country's reality, especially with regard to infections outside the capital.
Dhaka (AsiaNews) - Health authorities in Bangladesh have expressed concern over the spread of the dengue epidemic in the country: yesterday the death toll reached a daily high of 8 people, a record for 2023, while the number of people hospitalized in the last 24 hours was 1,589.
According to a statement from the National Health Department, in just over six months a total of 114 people have died from the virus via mosquitoes, including two Catholic girls, 4-year-old Anila Rozario and 11-year-old Nidra Sunnicholas, both from the Dhaka diocese where their parents had moved in search of work.
Nidra Sunnicholas was taking a First Communion preparation course in Tejgaon Parish, and was due to receive the sacrament on Sept. 1. Fr. Jhalok Anthony Dashai, vice pastor of Tejgaon parish, told AsiaNews, "We are very sorry that one of our students died from dengue. We also made the announcement during Sunday Mass so that families are aware that children are more vulnerable."
Of the people admitted yesterday, 847 are in hospitals in the capital, while the other 742 are housed in public and private facilities outside Dhaka. Since the beginning of the year a total of 22,467 patients have been hospitalized, including more than 14,000 in the capital. Already 67 people have died this month, up from nine recorded last year in July.
Local experts fear that if the number of patients continues to increase in this way, a health management crisis could occur. Mostak Ahmed, consultant and former scientific officer at the government's Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), believes dengue has taken the form of an epidemic: "We need to prepare now. In addition to preparing hospitals, steps should be taken to recruit more doctors and health workers," he said, pointing out that all four types of viruses, which are very similar to each other, are spreading.
Until a few years ago, dengue was considered a seasonal disease, but in the past two years the situation has changed and there has been no break in the infections. The situation has worsened especially in urban areas.
However, the Bangladesh Department of Health believes that it is not yet time to declare an emergency in the country. But even this is under review after health authorities held an online press conference on the situation on July 16. Health Department Director General Abul Basar Mohammad Khurshid Alam explained, "It is not yet time to declare a health emergency. To do such a thing you have to discuss it at the political level. We have communicated our concerns to them and if necessary I will inform the executive again."
In all of 2022, 62,382 patients had been hospitalized and 281 people had died, with peaks of infection in July and August. But health experts believe that these figures do not reflect the reality of the country because many people treat themselves at home and information from hospitals, both public and private, does not arrive on a regular basis. Qulle related to health facilities outside Dhaka, in particular, reach the Department of Health's statistical center more difficultly.
.png)
30/07/2019 12:43
20/01/2023 15:09
