Dengue infections up fivefold in first 5 months this year: Maleque

Health Minister Zahed Maleque today said that about 1,700 people have so far been infected with dengue this year, which is five times the number of infected at the same time last year.

Speaking at a press briefing at the Secretariat in the afternoon, Maleque said separate wards and beds have been set up at hospitals across the country for treatment of dengue patients.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 310 people were hospitalised with dengue between January 1 and May 28 last year. The number in the same period this year is 1,771. 

He also said the government would begin the Covid-19 booster dose campaign across the country from this week.

The government will get 30 lakh variant-containing vaccines (VCV) from the World Health Organization, he added.