No respite from dengue as winter approaches

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At least 64 people died of dengue and 23,880 others were hospitalised in the first 13 days of November, as the outbreak continues to take a heavy toll towards the end of the year.

At least 64 people died of dengue and 23,880 others were hospitalised in the first 13 days of November, as the outbreak continues to take a heavy toll towards the end of the year.

Experts warn that the situation could remain severe throughout November, with December likely to see more cases than in previous years.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), dengue claimed 174 lives in October, 148 in September, 43 in August, 36 in July and 13 in June.

Hospitalisations stood at around 53,000 in October, 43,774 in September, 20,536 in August, 9,206 in July and 2,907 in June.

Prof Kabirul Bashar of Jahangirnagar University’s Department of Zoology said the outbreak might not subside as quickly as previously expected, particularly due to recent rainfall, including rain two days ago.

Based on current trends, the decline in dengue cases during November could be smaller than initially anticipated, he said.

Bashar, an entomologist, stressed the need to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds, warning that rainfall could create new breeding sites wherever water accumulates.

He recommended applying larvicide where stagnant water could not be removed and regularly monitoring potential breeding sites to control the Aedes mosquito population.

He also called for stronger measures against Culex mosquitoes, whose population is likely to increase in the coming days.

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