After 19-year-old Mohammad Masud was diagnosed with dengue a few days ago, he returned to his Pirojpur home to stay with his parents.

When his health deteriorated, he had to be taken back to Dhaka and get admitted to DMCH as the local and district-level hospitals were unable to provide him with the necessary treatment.

"We couldn't continue his treatment at the district-level hospitals for long. He has now been admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH)," said Masud's father, Abdur Razzak Hawladar.

Masud contracted dengue at his Rayerbag residence in the capital.

Meanwhile, 15-year-old Siyam Khan, a resident of Matuail, has been undergoing treatment at DMCH since Saturday.

His father, Iqbal Hossain, said many locals had already contracted dengue and that the anti-mosquito drive in the area was insufficient.

Like them, many dengue patients are pouring into DMCH every day from in and out of the capital.

A doctor at the DMCH's medicine ward, wishing anonymity, said some 200 patients were being admitted to the two medicine wards every day, 70 percent of whom were dengue patients.

"We are currently only admitting patients in critical condition. Those who are in relatively better shape are being discharged after primary treatment."

Since the beginning of the outbreak, there were 2,590 dengue patients admitted to the DMCH, with 384 currently receiving treatment there.

10 MORE DIE

Ten more dengue deaths were reported in 24 hours till yesterday morning, raising the number of fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease in the country to 261 this year.

Meanwhile, 2,584 more patients were hospitalised, according to the Directorate General of Health Services.

So far, 54,416 dengue cases and 44,891 recoveries have been recorded this year.

SALINE CRISIS IN CTG

Dextrose saline, an essential fluid used to treat dengue, has remained largely unavailable in Chattogram for at least the past two week owing to an unwavering demand due to a rise in the number of patients.

As a result, hospitals in the port city have been struggling to treat dengue patients. Because of the supply crisis, they must purchase saline at two to three times the normal cost from the market -- with patients having to bear the additional cost.

Speaking to drug store owners, our Chattogram correspondent learned that only five companies produced and supplied dextrose normal saline (DNS) solution in the port city.

However, none of them has been supplying sufficient quantities to the market over the last month, citing a production shortage.

Dr Rezaul Karim, managing director of Parkview Hospital Ltd, said "We collect saline from four to five companies, but none of them can meet our demand nowadays. They can supply us with 10 to 12 litres of saline after we order 100 litres.

"As a result, we are facing difficulties while treating dengue patients -- even one without complications requires one litre per day. Critical patients may require up to three litres per hour."

Our correspondent found DNS solutions to be out of stock at pharmacies in Jamal Khan Road, Anderkilla, Chawkbazar, Bakalia, Panchlaish, Askar Dighir Par and Kazir Dewri areas.

Meanwhile, there were allegations that unscrupulous traders were stockpiling and selling saline at higher prices.

In this regard, the district administration and the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) conducted a joint drive at Hajari Goli, the largest wholesale market of medicines in Chattogram, on Tuesday.

Most traders fled the scene, closing their shops after being tipped off about the drive, during which 150 litres of DNS solution were seized from Bengal Pharmacy and Chattala Pharmacy. The seized saline was sold to hospitals at MRP.

"The saline was stocked with the intention of selling at a higher price," said Executive Magistrate Protik Dutta, who lead the mobile court.

Meanwhile, Samir Kumar Sikder, president of the Bangladesh Chemists and Druggists' Association in Chattogram district, denied the allegation of stockpiling.

"The drug stores couldn't stockpile saline solutions as they are not receiving supplies as per demand."

However, there was no shortage of DNS solutions in government hospitals.

Brig Gen Shamim Ahsan, director of Chattogram Medical College Hospital, said, "Government hospitals procure saline, like other necessary medications, through a tendering process, which obligate suppliers to provide larger stocks at once in order to avoid such crises."