Dengue affects 628 people in 9 months in Bogura

BOGURA, Sept 11: A total of 628 people have contracted dengue in Bogura district in the first nine months of this year, with the mosquito-borne disease now spreading to different upazilas.

According to the Bogura Civil Surgeon’s Office, 628 dengue cases were recorded in the district’s City Corporation area and various upazilas between January 1 and September 10. Of them, 592 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals.

Medical Officer Sajjadul Haque of the civil surgeon’s office said 19 new dengue cases were detected in the 24 hours till yesterday, taking the total number of infections to 628.

He said dengue is generally classified into two forms -- classical and haemorrhagic. All the cases reported in Bogura so far have been of the classical type, and no deaths have been recorded, he added.

The number of dengue patients has been rising steadily amid intermittent rainfall across the district. Rainwater is accumulating in different places, including construction sites and around newly built multi-storey buildings, creating breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes, officials said.

They said frequent rainfall is making the situation more difficult as there is often little time to drain stagnant water before another spell of rain.

Public unawareness is also contributing to the spread of dengue, officials said. They urged residents to keep their surroundings clean and remove stagnant water from containers, rooftops, drains and other places where mosquitoes can breed.

Sajjadul said designated beds have been kept available for dengue patients at hospitals in the City Corporation area and every upazila of the district.

Awareness campaigns are also being conducted through loudspeakers to encourage people to take preventive measures, he said.

Of the 628 patients infected so far, 592 have been discharged after receiving treatment at Bogura Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital, TMSS Medical College Hospital, Bogura 250-Bed Mohammad Ali Hospital and different upazila hospitals.

No haemorrhagic dengue cases have been reported in the district so far, the medical officer said.

Meanwhile, the Bogura City Corporation has intensified cleaning and mosquito-control activities in the city.

Siddiqur Rahman, a sanitary inspector at the city corporation, said cleaning and sanitation work is continuing in different areas.

He said insecticide is being sprayed in drains and other potential mosquito-breeding sites using fogging machines as part of the city corporation’s efforts to control the spread of dengue.