Dengue cases continue to rise across the capital, with stagnant water, pools, and rivers acting as breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes.
While dengue's impact isn’t felt year-round, the period from July to the end of October is considered the "red zone" for its spread.
This year, as in previous years, many patients have been hospitalised due to the virus.
Medical experts have highlighted the emergence of new symptoms previously unseen.
However, they advise against panic and urge government and private institutions, as well as city corporations, to increase public awareness and preventive measures.
A visit to several hospitals in Dhaka, including Shaheed Suhrawardy Hospital, reveals a continuous rise in dengue cases.
According to hospital data, nearly 5,000 patients were treated for dengue last year.
So far this year, 527 cases have been recorded at the hospital.
The situation is gradually slipping out of control, with 20 to 30 new dengue admissions being reported daily, according to hospital authorities.
ASM Kamruzzaman Suborno, assistant statistical officer at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, told Bangladesh First that 23 patients were admitted with dengue in the past 24 hours.
Currently, 126 patients are hospitalised, most of whom are men, he added.
Fortunately, there have been no reported fatalities at the hospital thus far. Out of the 527 patients admitted this year, 401 have recovered and returned home, while the rest remain under treatment, he further said.
In Ward 528-29 of Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, dengue patients like Siraj, a construction worker from Kamrangirchar, are receiving treatment.
After experiencing fever, severe abdominal pain, breathing difficulties, and diarrhoea for seven days, he was diagnosed with dengue, with his platelet count dropping to 40,000.
In the adjacent bed is another patient, Taherul Hasan, a resident of Mirpur Shewrapara, who was admitted with fever and headaches and also diagnosed with dengue. This ward alone currently houses over a hundred dengue patients.
Hospitals are seeing a steady influx of dengue cases. According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 1,144 dengue cases were reported nationwide yesterday, including 693 in Dhaka alone.
Dr Akhlaq Ahmad, assistant professor of Medicine at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, revealed the emergence of new symptoms this year.
He said that they classify dengue into three categories. This year, patients have been presenting with abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal swelling, and extreme weakness—symptoms that were not observed in previous outbreaks.
He explained that if dengue falls under Category "A", it typically involves a fever that can be managed with standard medication and rest.
The doctor also said that however, if additional symptoms like abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, low blood pressure, jaundice, weakness, or dizziness appear, it is advised that patients seek immediate medical attention.
He also urged people not to panic and stressed the need for increased awareness and responsibility from government and private institutions, as well as city corporations, in addressing the spread of dengue.
