The dengue situation in Bangladesh this year is relatively satisfactory compared to other Asian countries, though the government aims to bring it fully under control, said Tazul Islam, the Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives minister.
"The dengue situation is satisfactory compared to other Asian countries. However, we want the dengue situation to be fully under control, and I do not expect anyone to die of dengue. But, statistically, we are still in good shape," the minister said during the second meeting of the "National Committee on Prevention of Dengue and Other Mosquito-Borne Diseases" at the Secretariat on Thursday.
He presented the latest data on the dengue situation in India, Bangladesh, and other Asian countries at the meeting.
As of 2 July, 3,751 people have been affected by dengue in Bangladesh, with 46 deaths reported.
In comparison, India had 19,447 dengue patients as of April 30, 2024, Sri Lanka had 23,931, Malaysia had 50,650, and Indonesia had 88,593.
In developed countries like Singapore, 8,962 people were affected by dengue as of June 27, 2024, and Thailand reported 33,000 infected patients.
Tajul Islam claimed that public awareness in Dhaka city has increased this year.
"Everyone from the city corporation to the union council is working to increase public awareness. The respective authorities have been entrusted with the responsibility to ensure that the committees formed at the district, upazila, and municipal levels work actively," he said.
He added that all district commissioners and divisional commissioners have been instructed to implement the necessary measures.
"All institutions of the local government department, including the city corporation, are working to control dengue. We are identifying the areas where more people are affected as hotspots and representatives are going to these hotspots to take necessary measures," said the minister.
With patient reports from the Ministry of Health, the government is taking quick action by identifying the areas of affected patients.
The meeting was attended by Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Tapas, Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Atiqul Islam, Chittagong City Corporation Mayor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, and Local Government Division Secretary Abu Hena Morshed Zaman, among others.
