Dengue Outbreak11 areas of Dhaka declared red zones

The government authorities have declared 11 areas of the capital as ‘red zone’ for posing a risk for a dengue outbreak across the country.

The red zones include Jatrabari, Mugda, Kadmatoli, Jurain, Maniknagar and Sabujbagh of Dhaka South City Corporation and Uttara, Mohammadpur, Mirpur, Tejgaon and Badda of Dhaka North City Corporation.

Eleven more deaths were reported from dengue on Saturday, raising the fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease in the country to 167 this year.

The Directorate General of Health Services has also reported 2,242 hospitalisations - the highest number in a single day. Of the new patients, 1,239 were admitted to hospitals in Dhaka.

A total of 6,656 patients, including 3,839 in the capital, are now receiving treatment in hospitals across the country.

So far, the DGHS has recorded 30,685 dengue cases and 23,862 recoveries this year.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said most people are being infected with dengue in workplaces this year.

He has called upon the authorities concerned to spray mosquito repellents repeatedly in public and private offices, courts, educational institutions and factories.

The minister said the dengue situation is still under control. So time has not come yet to declare a public health emergency.

"The children's relatives say that they regularly spray mosquito repellents at homes. There are not many mosquitoes. They think the children got bitten by mosquitoes from schools.”

He made the call while talking to journalists after visiting Mugda Medical College Hospital in the capital on Saturday.

So, the school authorities are also called upon to take measures to kill mosquitoes in schools.”

According to the Department of Health, 28,443 people have been admitted to hospital due to dengue throughout the country till Thursday this year.

The dengue outbreak is increasing rapidly this year. While 5,956 people were hospitalized with dengue in June, the number tripled in the first 20 days of July.

Experts have feared that the outbreak of the mosquito dengue disease will increase further.