It’s December, why is dengue still around?
The number of dengue cases and fatality have been much higher in December this year compared to the last four years, according to the data analysis from 2019 to 2022.
Although experts had earlier predicted that the infection rate would come down with the approach of winter, there are still news of new infections, hospitalisations and deaths almost every day.
In December of this year alone, 4,397 people have been hospitalised with dengue fever and 19 patients died so far till 8:00am today (December 21, 2022).
A total of 1,207 patients were admitted to hospitals and seven died in December 2021, the data shows. In December 2020, 231 persons were hospitalised but no one died.
In 2019, the highest number of 1,01,354 patients were admitted to different hospitals in the country. However, in December of that year alone, 1,247 patients were diagnosed with dengue, but there was no fatality.
Contacted, Entomologist Dr Manjur Ahmed Chowdhury told The Daily Star "The temperature required for the survival of Aedes mosquitoes is still favourable."
He said there is still prevalence of dengue as winter is yet to set in properly. However, with the drop in temperature, the dengue menace will decrease.
The entomologist, however, expressed fear that cases of dengue fever may rise further next year. "If the city corporations stop taking measures when the outbreak is over this winter, the dengue situation may turn deadlier next year."
Khalilur Rahman, a former entomologist at the Directorate General of Health Services, said, "Winter is late this year, and the rainfall prior to the onset of the season has created favourable breeding conditions for aedes mosquitoes."
Prof Kabirul Bashar, an entomologist of Jahangirnagar University, earlier said a national vector control guideline and its proper implementation is necessary to control Aedes mosquito population.
A separate institute should be set up to conduct research and regularly share updates with the agencies involved in eradicating Aedes, he added.
The authorities need to continue its efforts against the spread of the disease and identify and neutralise clusters of Aedes mosquitoes, recommended experts. Besides, there is no alternative to keeping people's surroundings clean, they added.
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