Five people, including an expectant mother, have died of dengue and 2,065 others have been infected with the mosquito-borne disease afresh across the country.
The new deaths were reported in Dhaka and Khulna on Monday while the new infections in 24 hours till Monday morning.
Of the deceased, three lost their battle to the fever at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), taking the total number of deaths from dengue at the hospital to 14.
Of the new patients, 1159 were infected in the capital alone and nine of them were suffering from dengue hemorrhagic while two others from dengue shock syndrome.
In Dhaka, an expectant mother -- Sharmin Akhter Shapla, 32, wife of Nazmul Hasan, deputy director of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department -- died at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, while Hasan, 13, at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) early Monday.
UNB Joypurhat correspondent reports: Nazmul went to South Korea on Saturday keeping the family members at his father-in-law’s house at Shantinagar in the district town of Joypurhat.
Shapla was admitted to Joypurhat Modern Zila Hospital on Saturday with the symptoms of dengue fever where she was referred to Dhaka as her condition deteriorated.
“Shapla died around 4am at Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital,” said her elder brother Zahurul Islam Ujjal.
Thirteen-year-old boy Hasan was admitted to the DMCH on August 3 where he succumbed to dengue, said Dr Nasir Uddin, DMCH Assistant Director (Admin).
Nakul Kumar Das, 45, son of Nil Kantha Das in Shanir Akhra in the capital, died at the one-stop intensive care unit of DMCH in the evening.
Hailing from Naogain, Nakul was admitted to the hospital at noon, DMCH Assistant Director Dr Nasir Uddin.
A fourth grader, Othoi Saha, 11, daughter of Kanai Saha of Kamargram in Boalmari upazila in Faridpur, died while undergoing treatment in a private hospital in Dhaka.
She was first taken to Faridpur General Hospital from where she was later shifted to the capital, Boalmari Traders’ Association leader Madan Das said quoting the victim’s family members.
In Khulna, Khadiza Begum, 40, wife of Dulu Molla of Tafalbari village in Sharankhola upazila of Bagerhat, died in a private hospital in the morning.
She was admitted to City Medical Hospital five days back, said Civil Surgeon Dr ASM Aburd Razzak.
With this, a total of four people have so far died and 831 others infected with the mosquito-borne disease in the district, he said.
According to the Health Emergency Operations Centre of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), a total of 27,437 people were hospitalised with dengue since 1 January.
At least 7,658 patients, including children, are undergoing treatment at hospitals now, while the rest were discharged after treatment. Currently, a total of 4,962 patients were undergoing treatment in different hospitals in Dhaka, it said.
During the period, 18 dengue patients died, all in the capital, the DGHS said although the unofficial estimates suggest the death toll is much higher.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Zahid Malik said there is nothing to be worried about dengue as there is no country in the world where there is no dengue.
He said the government has taken necessary measures to prevent dengue.
“Conspiracies are going on centring dengue. The dengue situation is now under control. New insecticides are being imported which will be helpful to control Adese mosquito,” he said.
Deputy commissioners and civil surgeons have already been asked to take steps as dengue may spread further across the country during Eid, he said.
According to reports reaching the UNB news desk, a number of people were infected with dengue in many districts.
In Cumilla, 29 more dengue patients were admitted to different hospitals and clinics of the district in the last 24 hours till Monday morning.
Director of Comilla Medical College Hospital Dr Swapan Kumar Adhikari said they were struggling with the mounting pressure of patients, including that of dengue.
At least 86 people diagnosed with dengue are undergoing treatment in different hospitals of the district, he said.
In Chapainawabganj, the number of dengue patients is on the rise as 11 patients were hospitalised in the past 24 hours, said Civil Surgeon Dr Jahid Nazrul Chowdhury. A total of 49 dengue patients were admitted to Sadar Hospital in the last 12 days.
In Khagrachhari, six more dengue cases were reported, raising the total number of patients to 28. Of them, 17 were taking treatment at different hospitals while 11 returned home after treatment.
In Kurigram, a total of 43 people took treatment for dengue infection at Sadar Hospital and currently 23 are admitted to the hospital.