Dengue on the rise: Nearly 6,000 cases reported in three weeks

As Bangladesh continues to combat the coronavirus, an outbreak of dengue fever has raised concerns, with nearly 6,000 cases reported in just three weeks.

As many as 5,866 people were hospitalized in September with the mosquito-borne disease, when 13 deaths were reported, according to official figures.

Dhaka remains the hotspot as of the 246 cases detected in the 24 hours to Tuesday morning, 211 were logged in the division.

No deaths were reported during this time span. The overall fatality from the disease this year so far stands at 59, according to the daily update by the Directorate General of Health Services.

Currently 1,031 patients are being treated for dengue in government and private hospitals across the country, noted the DGHS.

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Since January this year, 16, 222 dengue hospitalizations have been reported while 15,231 people have recovered from the disease.

Meanwhile, the highest 7,689 cases were recorded in the month of August.

The highest number of dengue patients recorded in a single day was on September 7 with 343 cases.

In July, some 2,286 people were diagnosed with dengue and 12 died. In June, as many as 272 cases were recorded with no deaths.

The dengue virus, carried by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, had more than 100,000 people taking admission in hospitals in 2019.

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The threat of dengue had declined last year, when only 1,405 people were down with the disease, according to hospital records.

Dengue and Covid-19 illnesses manifest similar symptoms, complicating the diagnosis and isolation.

The health authorities designated six hospitals in and around Dhaka city as dengue caseloads rose alarmingly amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The six dedicated hospitals are: Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital, Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master General Hospital at Tongi in Gazipur; Railway General Hospital at Kamalapur, 20-bed Aminbazar Govt Hospital in Dhaka, Lalkuthi Hospital at Mirpur in Dhaka, and 31-bed Kamrangirchar Hospital.