75 die from respiratory illnesses outside Dhaka in 2 months

At least 75 people, including children, died of acute respiratory illnesses in around two months since November 14 outside of Dhaka city, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Of them, the highest 50 people died in the Chattogram division followed by 21 in Mymensingh, and two each in Khulna and Barishal divisions.

During the same period, at least 50,130 people, including children suffering from acute respiratory illnesses, the DGHS data showed.

Contacted, the health officials at the Health Emergency Operation Centre and Control Room at the DGHS said the data from the hospitals in Dhaka city were not available.

In Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and institute, at least 86 children died of pneumonia in November and December, Professor Dr Jahangir Alam, director of the hospital told this newspaper last week.

Meanwhile, diarrhoea claimed three lives while causing 3,29,144 illnesses, according to the data.

During winter, the incidence of respiratory illnesses, including childhood pneumonia rises countrywide.

Around 12,000 children under five years of age die of pneumonia and 9.33 lakh become sick each year in the country, according to icddr,b.