Dengue turns deadlier for Ctg in Nov

Dengue has turned even deadlier this month in Chattogram as almost one-third of the total deaths this year occurred in November.

So far, 35 dengue patients died in Chattogram this year, including 10 in just the first two weeks of this month alone. The death toll is likely to rise further by the end of the month.

The number of deaths was 9 in October and 11 in September.

Nasima Akter, 47, of port city's Halishahar area, became the latest victim after she died while undergoing treatment at Chittagong Medical College Hospital on Thursday night.

Nasima was admitted to CMCH on November 9.

At present, a total of 627 dengue patients are being treated in different hospitals in Chattogram, raising the total number of hospitalised patients this year to 3,562 in the district, said sources at Chattogram Civil Surgeon's Office.

The number of dengue patients made a big leap since September.

Of the deceased, most were children, young people and pregnant women.

Mentionable, the death rate is almost twice among women compared to men in Chattogram this year, although the detection rate of dengue is higher among men than among women.

Analysing the data received from the civil surgeon's office, it is seen that of the hospitalised patients, the death rate is 0.63 percent for male patients, 1.83 percent for female patients and 0.61 percent for child patients so far this year.

Contacted, Dr Abdur Rob, associate professor of Medicine at CMCH, said the Dengue 2 serotype, which is deadlier than other serotypes of the same virus, is more prevalent this year.

"Another reason behind the rising fatality rate is late admission of patients to hospitals," he added.

Dr Jahangir Alam, civil surgeon of Chattogram, advised patients with fever along with other symptoms including body pain, headache, diarrhoea and low blood pressure, to seek immediate hospitalisation.

Shahadat Hossain, mayor of Chattogram City Corporation, said dengue test has been made free of cost upon doctor's advice in Memon Maternity Hospital, which is run by CCC.

"We are working to bring down mosquito population by destroying breeding grounds and larvae. However, the residents must also be cautious to keep their surroundings clean," he added.