Dengue remained mostly under control during the rainy season that ended in September, but an outbreak is being reported for the last one month and a half bemusing many.The authorities of two city corporations in the capital city say they are alert to take preventive measure so that dengue menace does not become another threat to the people.

Fourteen new dengue patients were hospitalized in the past 24 hours until early Wednesday. 80 dengue patients are now receiving treatment, 68 of them in Dhaka hospitals, the Directorate General of HealthServices said.

The health authority also reported 1,207 dengue cases since January, and 1,120 patients have recovered so far. Reports of seven dengue-related deaths have been sent to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR). It has so far reviewed four cases and confirmed three dengue deaths.

According to official figures, 101,354 dengue cases and 179 deaths were recorded in Bangladesh last year. In response to a query about the dengue menace from The Asian Age Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Deputy Chief Health Officer Lieutenant Colonel Golam Mostafa Sarwar, said they are conducting comb operations to keep the city clean with a view protecting the dwellers from dengue infection in 54 wards, together with anti-mosquito water spray and fogging smoke to kill mosquitoes.

DNCC has capacity for making water spray and fogging smoke with chemicals for at least three months to kill mosquitoes and destroy larva that might cause dengue infection. In addition, the authority has already collected a large quantity of UK-made tablets that are mixed with water to deactivate larva from which Aedes mosquitoes turn adults and transmit dengue germs, DNCC sources said.

DNCC is using chemicals manufactured in China to spray and create fog. Due to such measures, the authority believes that dengue menace is now under control. Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr. Meer Mostafizur Rahman of Dhaka South City Corporation told The Asian Age that they are using chemicals manufactured by India and China in fog and water spray to destroy mosquitoes and larva thatturn into aedes mosquitoes. They claimed they have sufficient stock of chemicals to keep dengue under control.

According to the DSCC authority, the citizens without civic sense seem to be a great hazard in maintaining a healthy atmosphere and sound environment. If the citizens demonstrate a strong sense of responsibility, the capital city may turn clean and healthy within a short span of time. To face the threat of dengue, every measure with sufficient mosquito killing chemical and equipment has been taken. DSCC's human resources are active in 75 wards to kill mosquitoes and larva and defend public health, DSCC sources said.

According to medical experts, dengue is an infection caused by four types of viruses namely DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4. The viruses are transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes female mosquitoes that feed both indoors and outdoors during the daytime. These mosquitoes thrive in the areas with standing water, puddles, water tanks, containers and old tyers. Lack of sound sanitation and absence of regular garbage collection is responsible for the outbreak of dengue.

In some cases, dengue infection is asymptomatic -patients do not exhibit symptoms. Those with symptoms get ill between 4 to 7 days after the bite. The infection is characterized by flue-like symptoms which include a sudden high fever coming in separate waves, pain behind the eyes, muscle, joint and bone pain, severe headache and a skin rash with red spots.

There is no antiviral treatment available for the dengue patients, the sources said. At present, Bangladesh is facing a steady rise in dengue cases amid the coronavirus pandemic. ----- - more people were hospitalized with dengue fever in the last one week. Of the dengue cases, 93 were  reported from Dhaka alone. Also the health authority confirmed 969 dengue cases since January and 863 patients recovered..