The number of dengue patients is increasing by the day in the city.

On an average some 40 patients are being admitted daily to different hospitals and clinics in the city for treatment of dengue. Most of those brought to the hospitals and clinics for treatment are cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever, according to sources. Last year most of the cases were of classic dengue.

This season the number of admissions into hospitals were less than those last year as awareness has been raised among the people and most of the cases were being managed at home, said experts.

According to the control room of the Directorate of Health Services two patients have so far died and 240 affected in the city since June. Forty-seven patients were under treatment in different hospitals in the city yesterday. Of them eight were admitted yesterday- two to Dhaka Shishu Hospital, one to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), two to BIRDEM Hospital and three to Holy Family Red Crescent Hospital, according to the control room. But most of the cases of dengue fever are not being reported to the control room. The number however was much higher than the figure shown by the control room, unofficial sources claimed.

According to control room sources, so far 15 dengue patients have been given treatment at Dhaka Shishu Hospital, 61 at DMCH, 12 at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital, 12 at Mitford Hospital, 70 at BIRDEM Hospital, 67 at Holy Family Red Crescent Hospital and nine at different private clinics and hospitals in the city. Most of the patients treated in private clinics and hospitals are not reported to the control room.

Both the telephone sets at the control room are also out of order for more than a week. As a result reports are not properly reaching the control room. Journalists are also facing difficulty in collecting information on dengue from the control room.