The onrush of dengue patients to the hospitals and clinics in the city is taking an alarming turn.

A total of 62 patients were being treated at different hospitals and clinics in the city yesterday. Of them the highest number of 28 patients were in the Holy Family Red Crescent Hospital, 18 at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), nine at the BIRDEM Hospital, four at the Dhaka Shishu Hospital and three at the Mitford Hospital.

Six patients were admitted in four city hospitals yesterday, according to the control room of the Directorate of Health services. Of them two each were admitted to the DMCH and the Holy Family Hospital while one each to the Dhaka Shishu Hospital and Mitford Hospital.

According to the control room 497 patients have so far been admitted in different hospitals and clinics throughout the country since January. Of them seven have so far died.

News of dengue cases from most of the non-government hospitals and clinics are not reaching the control room.

No effective measures have yet been taken at government level to check the spread of dengue though World Health Organisation (WHO) in a message on August 28 warned that dengue was spreading in Asia-Pacific region including Bangladesh and stressed on preventive measures on an emergency basis.

Though decision was taken last year to collect eight cell separator machines, only two were collected by the Red Crescent Blood Centre which was inadequate to meet the demand.

Government and the Dhaka City Corporation activities were yet confined to publicity only. According to surveys conducted at government and non-government levels the presence of aedes mosquito that spreads dengue was found in more than 60 per cent households in the city. Entomologists say favourable condition for multiplication of aedes mosquito larvae was prevailing in the city now. The surveys stressed on the need for the prevention of aedes mosquito.