Dengue claims 3 more in city

Staff Correspondent

Official sources said nine-month old Alim was among those who died in last 24 hours. Admitted to Dhaka Shishu Hospital on September 2, Alim died at 4:50pm Saturday. Anwar Hossain, 30, admitted to Mitford General Hospital on September 8 died at 5:40am yesterday, and four years old Tahmina admitted on September 7 to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) died at 2:30am yesterday.

Of the total patients, three died in Dhaka Shishu Hospital and the DMCH each, two in Mitford General Hospital and the BIRDEM each and one in Holy Family Red Crescent Hospital.

Sources in different private clinics and hospitals in the city reported admission of more than 40 dengue-infected patients in last 24 hours, most of whom are undergoing treatment for DHF. There was no report of death in the private clinics, though.

Experts said the transmission of more than two types of virus out of the four in the blood circulatory system causes DHF, and the studies on a small number of people in Bangladesh indicated that all four types of virus exist, with the type-3 being most prevalent.

According to the Health Directorate, 79 people are currently hospitalised, mostly with dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever in the city, with 24 fresh cases in last 24 hours.

Of 24 patients, nine were admitted to the DMCH, two to Dhaka Shishu Hospital, five each to Mitford General Hospital and Holy Family Red Crescent Hospital, one each to the BIRDEM and the Government Staff Hospital.

According to the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC), the population of aedes mosquito that transmits the dengue virus has grown at an alarming rate. In most of the places in Dhaka University and Old City areas, the aedes mosquito has grown as high as ten to 15 times.

Last year, experts predicted that this year the capital might experience an exceptionally high rate of dengue attacks. So far, according to the official sources, 617 people have been infected with dengue virus.

The DCC has taken up emergency measures to destroy aedes larvae, but entomologists said it did not act on time.