Rising dengue cases in Khulna city worry residents

The number of dengue cases, a mosquito-borne disease, is increasing in Khulna like elsewhere in the county.

Due to political instability and other factors this year, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and Khulna City Corporation (KCC) are yet to take effective measures against this disease.

Moreover, a separate ward for dengue patients has not been opened at Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) and mosquito control activities have stalled.

The citizen-service-providing organization KCC is yet to launch the campaign to identify Aedes mosquito larvae leaving residents concerned over the growing situation.

According to the health department of the KCC, from the beginning of the year until 16 August, a total of 183 people have been detected with dengue in Khulna. Of them, 172 have recovered after receiving treatment, six are now undergoing treatment at the KMCH, and four others are receiving care at other public and private hospitals.

On 14 August, one patient died while undergoing treatment at the KMCH.

Despite such a situation in the Khulna, no separate ward for dengue patients has been set up at the KMCH. Dengue patients are being treated in the general medicine ward and patients and their relatives have reported that this lack of a dedicated ward increases the risk of infection.

Expressing concern, conscious society said that mosquitoes could spread the disease to healthy individuals after biting those already infected.

Contacted, Dr. Suhas Ranjan Halder, resident medical officer of the KMCH, said that due to the currently manageable number of patients, there are no plans to set up a separate ward for dengue patients.

He assured that there are enough dengue testing kits and that the platelet separator machine is operational.

Meanwhile, political instability over the past month has led to a halt in Khulna City Corporation's mosquito control operations. This month, no mosquito-controlling chemicals have been distributed in the city and no cleanliness drives have been conducted.

As a result, mosquito breeding has increased and the city corporation has not taken any steps to identify Aedes mosquito larvae. The waste management department lacks information on mosquito breeding areas or larvae prevalence.

Anisur Rahman, chief waste management officer of the KCC, told UNB that due to the rain, larvicide and adulticide are not being used as they would be washed away by rainwater.

He said fogging machines are being used to kill flying mosquitoes and once the rain subsides, larvicide and adulticide will be applied. Plans are also being considered to identify Aedes mosquito larvae.

Dr Swapan Kumar Halder, chief health officer of the KCC, said that awareness campaigns about dengue are being conducted at Picture Palace Square in the city.

Health workers are visiting homes to make residents aware of the preventive measures, he added.