Dengue outbreak: Country sees third highest daily d e a t h s

At least 17 more people died from dengue in 24 hours till 8:00am yesterday as the country reported the third highest number of deaths in a single day this year. Of the 17 deaths, 16 were reported in the capital.

With this, the total number of deaths from dengue this year rose to 593, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

At least 2,308 dengue patients were hospitalised in the last 24 hours, which took the tally of dengue cases to 1,23,808, making it the deadliest year since the first recorded epidemic in 2000.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Atiqul Islam, mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), yesterday said, "Cannons or guns are not needed to kill Aedes mosquitoes. All we need to do so is not letting water to accumulate."

Addressing a programme at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Academy in the city, Atique said it will be possible to prevent dengue only by removing water stored in yard, terrace, roof and unused container at house.

Awareness is the biggest "weapon" against dengue, he said.

"We have started a campaign on the hashtag "#fightwithbite" for dengue awareness. This initiative has been taken to increase public participation. Nowadays social media is an easy and big platform. I request everyone to spread this awareness message through social media. Social movement should be developed to control dengue. Everyone should be aware," said Mayor Atique.

DNCC mayor also said, "Facebook influencers are involved in dengue awareness activities. Father and son of popular Facebook content creator Bap Ka Betta, Sijdas of Sijdas Classroom have come to tell about what to do to prevent dengue. I request other Facebook influencers to make people aware..."

Responding to a reporter's query, the mayor said they are trying in different ways to control dengue. Besides, they are continuing regular activities to prevent the mosquito-borne disease and trying to involve everyone in those.

"I incorporated people popular on Facebook into the campaign. A theatre group consisting of students from various universities will make people aware by organising plays. They will… perform street plays in ten zones of the DNCC for the next one month," he said.

The mayor said they will also campaign by displaying the picture of Aedes mosquito on 20 rickshaws.

"If everyone tries together, it is possible to control Aedes mosquito," he added.

Prof Emeritus ABM Abdullah of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) said, "Aedes mosquitoes breed both indoors and outdoors. But it grows more in stagnant water at home. They are sometimes called a domesticated mosquito. Therefore, house should be kept clean... Try to save yourselves from mosquito bites."

Dr Mostak Hossain, former chief scientific officer at the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), said, "The monsoon is going on. If rainwater accumulates, Aedes mosquitoes breed there. So, within three days, the accumulated water should be thrown away."

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