DHAKA, July 2: As Bangladesh continues to grapple with a public health crisis, hospitals remain overwhelmed by more than 900 daily measles admissions, while health experts warned that a rise in dengue cases could place further strain on the healthcare system and increase the risk of additional deaths, local media reported on Thursday.
Reports suggest that major public hospitals in Dhaka, which have treated thousands of dengue patients during past outbreaks, remain heavily burdened by measles cases. Experts cautioned that any surge in dengue infections could place additional pressure on already limited healthcare resources and disrupt delivery of medical care.
The dengue situation deteriorated in June, with rising infections and fatalities—accounting for 48 per cent of all cases and 72 per cent of deaths recorded so far this year, leading Bangladeshi newspaper The Daily Star reported.
Health experts warned that both figures could climb further during the peak monsoon months of July and August unless authorities strengthen measures to curb dengue-carrying Aedes mosquitoes.
Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) recorded 718 fatalities from measles or measles-like symptoms between March 15 and June 30, with more than 113,000 patients—mostly children—being hospitalised. (IANS)
