The government is yet to take necessary steps for the prevention of dengue though the fever might break out in an epidemic form anytime with the start of the monsoon.

According to official sources, two cases of dengue fever have so far been reported this year but the unofficial sources said nine dengue patients were admitted to hospitals in Dhaka and other places of the country.

Last year, the authorities decided to procure eight cell separators, a machine required to separate platelet- a component of blood infused in dengue patients as the platelet count comes down in a dengue patient. But the cell separators are yet to be procured though the monsoon has set in.

Some 93 people died of dengue last year, according to the Directorate of Health Services. A total of 5551 people were attacked by the disease. But unofficial sources say dengue has so far claimed more than 150 lives.

The Directorate of Health Services has, meanwhile, started a week-long entomological survey in the 90 wards of Dhaka city corporation (DCC).

The Director of the Communicable Diseases Control (CDC) of the Directorate, Dr Kanak Ranjan Talukder, said they gained experience in dealing with dengue last year and it would not be much difficult to deal with the disease if it breaks out this year.

The government has so far imparted training on dengue case management to 134 doctors and 45 professors of 13 government medical colleges, the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University and the Dhaka Shishu Hospital. It will train 256 more doctors in 8 batches in 64 districts this year. The training programme will start by the end of this month, according to a source. Noted Thai Dengue consultant Dr Siripen, who trained the doctors in Bangladesh last year, is expected to arrive in Dhaka by the end of this week to impart training.

Dr M Ataul Huq Mahmood of the Malaria & Parasitic Diseases Control Unit of the Directorate of Health Services said there are four types of dengue virus- Den-1, Den-2, Den-3 and Den-4. All four types following infection produce similar symptoms. The symptomatic manifestations of Dengue Fever (DF), Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) and Dengue Shock Syndrome ((DSS) are overlapping in nature and not differentiable at the beginning, sometime progressing from one category to another.

Dr Mahmood said dengue fever is an acute febrile illness of 2 to 7 day duration. DF and DHF are not distinguishable in febrile phase and treatment is essentially the same. Treatment is rest, sponging with tepid water at room temperature and paracetamol. He said aspirin, antibiotics or any other NSAIDs should not be given to the patient. Giving steroid should be avoided.

He said the cases of DHF should be observed every hour. He said timely intravenous therapy-isotonic crystalloid solution-can prevent shock and lessen the severity. In case of shock oxygen should be given to the patient, he added. .( The Independent )