There is no respite from the deadly fever dengue as the disease is taking its toll almost everyday in the city or districts.
Virtually it is spreading in an epidemic form creating panic among the people.
Two people died of dengue in Rangpur division on Tuesday-one in Rangpur and another in Dinajpur district.
In Rangpur, a minor girl died of the fever at Rangpur Medical College and Hospital (RMCH) in the morning.
The deceased was identified as Riyana, 03, daughter of Ashraful Islam hailing from Nakaihat village under Palashbari upazila in Gaibandha district.
Dr Shahisuzzaman Rebel, spokesperson of the hospital, said the child had been undergoing treatment at RMCH for the last three days. She was diagnosed with dengue after returning from Dhaka recently, he added.
In Dinajpur, a teenage boy succumbed to mosquito-borne dengue fever at M Abdur Rahim Medical College and Hospital.
Rabiul Islam, 17, son of Noyan Islam of Nekmarad village at Ranishankail upazila in Thakurgaon district, died around 5:30am, according to hospital sources.
Meanwhile, the unprecedented outbreak of dengue has created panic among the people of Rangpur.
According to sources, some 121 dengue patients, including children, are undergoing treatment at Rangpur Medical College Hospital now while many were discharged after treatment.
Sources at several hospitals, clinics and dialogistic centres said a good number of panicked people are coming for dengue tests.
But the hospital authorities are doing the test only when they find it necessary as their stock of the dengue detection kits has become scanty, sources added.
Our Cumilla Correspondent adds: The number of dengue patients is rising in the district. A total of 22 new dengue patients were admitted to the Cumilla Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) during the last 24 hours until Tuesday morning.
So far, 213 dengue patients have been admitted to various hospitals including the CMCH.
Some 99 of them returned home after receiving treatment. At present, 78 patients are undergoing treatment at the CMCH. On average, some 20 new dengue patients are being admitted to the hospital per day.
CMCH sources said patients suffering from dengue started receiving treatment at the medical college and hospital from July 22. Until July 27, the number of dengue patients admitted to CMCH was 27. Then the number of patients started to swell from July 28.
Moreover, one dengue patient was reported receiving treatment at Titas Upazila Health Complex and five more at Homna Upazila Health Complex.
However, all the patients here claimed to have been infected with the disease from Dhaka.
The CMCH asked people to be aware of the disease. Because Aedes mosquito larva have been found in the district.
Cumilla Medical College Hospital sources said a few days back, more than 400 people who had been suffering from fever were diagnosed at the hospital's Pathology Department and of them, 13 were identified as dengue patients.
During a visit to the CMCH on Tuesday morning, one Prabir Chandra Sarkar claimed that he was infected with dengue in Cumilla. However, the district civil surgeon said that Prabir was more likely to be attacked with the disease in Dhaka as he was in Dhaka 20 days ago.
Shamim Mia, a resident of Rajamaher village under Devidwar upazila, was admitted to CMCH on July 27. He said he works in a restaurant in Dhanmondi area in the capital.
Shamim said, "The restaurant management sent me home on vacation immediate after I was diagnosed as dengue patient. I had vomiting tendency and acute pain all over the body. I feel a little better now."
Dr. Swapan Kumar Adhikari, director of Cumilla Medical College Hospital, said, "All the dengue patients admitted here were infected in Dhaka. We are giving them constant treatment. The general patients suffer for bed shortage as dengue patients are increasing."
Cumilla Civil Surgeon Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman said dengue is a 'viral fever'. There is no reason for fear or panic. Cumilla has all the facilities for dengue treatment.
He asked people to adopt precautionary measures in this connection to prevent dengue.
In this connection, Cumilla City Mayor Monirul Haque Sakku said, "Our cleanliness week has been continuing from July 25 to prevent dengue. Cumilla City has nine fogger machines through which layer spray drugs are applied to kill mosquitoes and destroy mosquito breeding grounds."
"The mayor said, "The city corporation has formed a 12-member committee to prevent dengue. I am the head of that committee. One officer has been given the responsibility of observing three wards. In addition to the committee, the councillors concerned of the 27 wards are also working."
Deputy Commissioner of Cumilla Md. Abul Fazer Mir said that a massive awareness programme was being carried out in Cumilla to prevent dengue. City Corporation, District Administration and District Health Department are jointly holding the programme to prevent dengue.
Apart from these, awareness programmes like leaflets distribution and campaign at schools and colleges are going on.
He said help desk on dengue has been set up in 17 upazila health complexes in the district.
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