Late hospitalisation behind rising dengue fatalities: DGHS

The health directorate has urged all patients with fever to get tested for dengue immediately at the nearest hospital and seek prompt medical attention if confirmed, following nine deaths from the mosquito-borne disease over 24 hours till 8:00 am today.

Abu Hussain Md Moinul Ahsan, director (hospital) at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), told The Daily Star that delayed hospitalisation has been a major factor behind the recent spike in fatalities.

According to DGHS, seven of the nine victims died on the day of hospitalisation, while one of the remaining two passed away the day after being admitted.

"Primarily, the delay in reaching hospital caused the dengue infection to become complicated, leaving little opportunity for effective treatment. Late hospital admissions or delayed consultation with doctors make treating complicated cases difficult," a DGHS statement read.

The health authority also said all hospitals are stocked with sufficient dengue testing kits, saline, and medicines.

However, to reduce deaths, it is essential to ensure rapid dengue detection, treatment according to guidelines, and effective mosquito control measures simultaneously, it added.