Dengue situation worsens in Pirojpur

Dengue detection test

PIrojpur, Sept 1 — Dengue situation has worsened across all seven upazilas of Pirojpur, with patients being admitted daily to hospitals and upazila health complexes.

Twenty new cases were reported in the district between Sunday and Monday, while 36 patients were admitted to different hospitals, health officials said.

Ruby, 35, of Parerhat, died at Pirojpur Sadar Hospital last night, about an hour after being admitted.

According to the Civil Surgeon’s Office, 1,777 dengue patients have been admitted to the district hospital and six upazila health complexes since January 1.

Local sources said the actual number could be much higher, with around 100 patients currently receiving treatment at different hospitals, including private facilities.

Dr Arif, a medical officer at the Civil Surgeon’s Office, said fogging alone cannot destroy mosquito larvae and stressed the need to use larvicides to control mosquito breeding.

An Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) team recently visited Pirojpur after being informed of the surge in cases.

Although the team’s written report has yet to be received, officials said it verbally reported finding dengue mosquito larvae in stagnant water around homes and in holes left after betel nut and coconut trees were cut.

Pirojpur currently has the highest number of dengue patients among the districts in Barishal Division, officials said.

Meanwhile, only 18 of the 62 doctors posted at Pirojpur Sadar Hospital are currently working, making it difficult to provide adequate treatment to the growing number of patients.

Residents have urged the authorities to increase municipal manpower and intensify mosquito-control activities, including deploying more spray machines, to contain the outbreak. - UNB