A record 1,246 people were hospitalised across the country yesterday – the highest in a single day so far this year.

Meanwhile, five more patients died during the same period.

With these, the total number of dengue patients recorded since January 1 rose to 16,143, of which 5,124 are from outside Dhaka, while the number of deaths rose to 88, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Experts have urged the authorities concerned to take necessary and urgent measures to control the Aedes mosquito breeding.

According to a pre-monsoon survey by the DGHS, conducted on 3,150 houses in 98 wards of the two city corporations between June 18 and 27, at least 20.4 percent of the houses under Dhaka North City Corporation have presence of Aedes mosquito larvae, while it is 15.14 percent in Dhaka South City Corporation.

Aedes larvae were found in 549 of all the houses surveyed. Of them, over 43 percent are multi-storeyed apartment buildings and 21.41 percent are independent houses.

Meanwhile, the dengue tests fee has been slashed to Tk 50 from Tk 100 in all public hospitals. This will remain effective for the next one month, the DGHS said in a statement yesterday.

Sheikh Daud Adnan, director of hospitals and clinics at the DGHS, told The Daily Star, "As per the health minister's instructions, we have reduced the fee so that dengue tests can be accessible to all."

However, the fee at private hospitals and diagnostic centres will remain unchanged at Tk 300, he said.

DGHS has further urged all to ensure their surrounding environments are kept clean.

In a separate circular, the directorate has instructed all public hospitals to activate separate dengue corners and directed hospital authorities to ensure treatment as per the updated treatment guideline available on www.dghs.gov.bd.

It also asked them to ensure adequate human resources in the dengue units; adequate supply of NS1 kit used for dengue testing; and mosquito nets for all patients.

Meanwhile, the DSCC yesterday fined 12 building owners Tk 1.25 lakh for Aedes mosquito larvae in their structures.

The fines were imposed after eight DSCC mobile courts conducted anti-mosquito drives at different city area, including Pirbagh, Shahbagh, Uttar Mugda, Dakkhin Mugda, Jhigatola, Babubazar, Dakkhin Jatrabari, Purba Nandipara, Purba Sheikhdi and Kutubkhali.

Special combing operations against Aedes mosquitoes are also being conducted in educational institutions in DSCC areas, under which, after cleaning the premises and applying bleaching power, the authorities will use larvicide and adulticide, said DSCC public relations officer Md Abu Nasher.