5,972 dengue cases and 33 deaths in Chattogram: CCC administrator urges maximum caution until November
Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) administrator Dr Shahadat Hossain has said the dengue risk has not fallen even though the rain has decreased. Based on last year’s experience, the outbreak may continue until November, he said, calling for Aedes mosquito breeding sites to be destroyed, mosquito control work to be strengthened, and city residents to remain at maximum caution.
He made the call on Monday (October 26) while chairing a dengue situation review meeting in the conference room of the CCC office at Tigerpass in the city.
According to information presented at the meeting, 5,972 people were infected with dengue in Chattogram city and the upazilas of the district from January 1 to October 26 this year. There were also 708 patients who came from other districts of Chattogram Division.
A total of 33 people died of dengue during this period. Among them were 18 women, 9 children and 6 men. At present, 91 dengue patients are admitted to various hospitals.
In the city area, the highest number of patients, 439, was identified in Halishahar. In addition, 334 people were infected in Kotwali, 324 in Bandar, 304 in Pahartali and 256 in Baklia.
At the upazila level, the highest number of patients, 848, was identified in Sitakunda. In Karnaphuli 323 people and in Banshkhali 231 people were infected.
According to the statistics presented at the meeting, 2,430 people were infected with dengue in September and 2,127 people were infected in October up to the 26th.
Dr Shahadat Hossain said dengue prevention cannot rely only on the city corporation’s work. City residents must also keep their homes, roofs, balconies and surroundings clean. Water collected under flower tubs, discarded containers, coconut shells and old tyres, along with clear water collected in various places, can become Aedes mosquito breeding sites, so water must not be allowed to collect anywhere.
He also said people from different levels of society, including the media, educational institutions and social and religious leaders, must be involved in raising public awareness against dengue. It is important to raise awareness among students and family members about dengue symptoms, ways of prevention and taking timely treatment.
The meeting was told that three workers are on duty in each small ward and five workers in each large ward in the CCC’s mosquito control work, with about 150 workers involved in total. Medicines including BTI are also being applied for mosquito control. The administrator emphasised running these activities regularly, identifying mosquito breeding sites and increasing field-level supervision.
On the treatment of dengue patients, the administrator said timely and proper treatment must be ensured for infected people. Admitted patients must also be kept under mosquito nets, because after a mosquito bites a dengue-infected person the virus can spread to another person through that mosquito. Protecting patients from mosquito bites is therefore important alongside treatment.
The meeting was attended by the CCC’s acting chief executive officer and secretary Md Ashraful Amin, chief conservancy officer Captain Shamim Mohammad Khan, malaria and mosquito control officer Sharful Islam Mahi and officials of the relevant departments.
