DGHS urges early dengue test

City Desk :

The Directorate General of Health Services has recommended that anyone who develops a fever immediately undergo an NS1 test for dengue to ensure timely detection.

The health directorate made the request in a public notice issued on Sunday, reports bdnews24.com.

In the 24 hours until Sunday morning, Bangladesh reported nine dengue-related deaths, with 1,042 people admitted to hospitals, marking the highest single-day toll for both deaths and hospitalisations this year. According to the notice, of the nine deaths, seven occurred on the first day of hospitalisation, reports bdnews.com.

Bangladesh has recorded three more dengue deaths and 782 hospitalisations in the last 24 hours, as admissions exceeded the 50,000 mark this year. According to the health directorate’s Monday bulletin, the total number of hospitalisations due to the Aedes mosquito-borne disease this year hit 50,689, while the tally of deaths rose to 215.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said the deaths occurred at Khulna Medical College Hospital, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, and Mugda Medical College Hospital.
Of them, two were men, and the other a woman, aged 35, 85, and 28.

September saw the highest number of hospitalisations and deaths this year, with 15,866 people admitted and 76 deaths recorded. In the first five days of October alone, 3,347 were hospitalised, and 14 died.

In July, 10,684 people were admitted, and 41 people died. Previous months had seen fewer cases, with 1,161 admissions in January, 374 in February, 336 in March, 701 in April, 1,773 in May, 5,951 in June, and 10,496 in August.

The worst outbreak came in 2023, when 321,179 patients were hospitalised and 1,705 died.
As of now, 2,473 dengue patients are hospitalised nationwide, including 851 in Dhaka hospitals and 1,622 in hospitals outside the capital.

The DGHS emphasised that the delay in seeking hospital care contributed to the severity of dengue cases, leaving insufficient time for effective treatment.
“Two other individuals died the day after admission. The delay in seeking medical attention makes it difficult to manage severe cases,” the notice said.

If dengue is confirmed, they should seek medical help without delay, it added.
The DGHS reassured the public that it remains highly vigilant about dengue treatment, with sufficient testing kits, saline solutions, and medications available at all hospitals.
It said, to reduce deaths, it is crucial to quickly identify dengue, provide treatment according to guidelines, and implement effective mosquito control measures. The health directorate also called for cooperation from all stakeholders.
In a press conference on Sept 22, the DGHS revealed that most of the 124 dengue-related deaths reviewed had been caused by patients arriving at hospitals too late. According to Dr Md Halimur Rashid, director of the Infectious Disease Control Branch, the review showed that most deaths occurred three to six days after the onset of fever, with 66 of the 124 deaths occurring within 24 hours of admission.
As of Sunday, 49,907 people have been hospitalised across the country due to dengue, with 212 deaths reported.