Category: Medical &Health

The dengue outbreak has killed 201 people in Bangladesh, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) reported.

The total number of dengue fever cases has reached 37,688 since Jan, in the country.

From Jan 1 to Jul 25 this year, DGHS said 29,560 dengue patients returned home after receiving treatment from various hospitals across the country.

In order to fight the rising number of dengue cases, Bangladeshi health authorities have strengthened measures to check the breeding of mosquitoes and conduct anti-larval operations

Source: Nam News Network

The Bir Hospital has brought VIP and VVIP wards into operation. A fully equipped three-bed ward in the surgical building has a guest and visitor's hall, said the hospital director Dr Santosh Paudel.

Two beds have been already allocated for VIP and VVIP persons on the first floor of the old building of the hospital. Minister for Health and Population Mohan Bahadur Basnet on Tuesday inaugurated the VIP and VVIP wards amid a function.

Beds have been added so patients get treatment for all sorts of diseases, said the minister.

"We have formed a 15-member team of specialist doctors from government and private hospitals for the same. The team of doctors provides treatment. No one needs to go to foreign countries for medical treatment," he said.

Minister Basnet also directed office bearers of the National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS) and Bir Hospital to make the hospital service more effective. Members of the VIP and VVIP treatment specialist committee led by the NAMS chancellor Prof Dr Bhupendra Kumar Basnet are Dr Kiran Shrestha, Dr Dhurba Gaire, Dr Rabiram Shrestha, Dr Shaili Pradhan, Dr Bhagawan Koirala, Dr Pukar Chandra Shrestha, Dr Mahesh Adhikari, Dr Subhash Acharya, Dr Sanduk Ruit, Dr Shashi Sharma, Dr Ratna Gajurel, Dr Badri Rijal, Dr Man Bahadur Gajurel and Dr Ramesh Chokhani.

Source: National News Agency-Nepal

Healthcare professionals today focused on holistic approach for combating dengue as the mosquito-borne disease has already turned into a public health problem.

"We need to take holistic approach incorporating all relevant agencies to contain dengue disease as it has created a massive public health burden," Professor Dr. Md. Nazmul Islam, Line Director, Communicable Disease Control (CDC) of Director of Directorate General of Health Service, told BSS.

He said the number of dengue patients had been increasing alarmingly since January this year giving a signal of dengue pandemic during rainy season as 566 dengue cases were reported in the first month of the year, which are almost five times higher than that of same period of past three years.

As many as 177 dengue positive cases were recorded in January 2020, 21 cases in January 2021, 126 cases in January 2022 while 566 dengue patients were detected in January 2023, Nazmul added.

He said both city corporations have to play a leading role in curbing dengue diseases, saying: "The city corporations have an authority to develop a mechanism to handle the mosquito-borne disease."

The health expert said, "If we can be able to kill Aedes mosquito completely or destroying potential breeding grounds, we can prevent the disease...but it is a huge task to eradicate Aedes mosquito completely."

He said social movement incorporating all levels of people in society including religious leaders should be launched to destroy breeding sources of Aedes mosquito.

Dr M Mushtaq Hussain, adviser of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), described community mobilization as the most effective initiative to control dengue outbreak as the country is now in the grip of the mosquito-borne disease.

"Community engagement is very crucial to prevent dengue disease... All relevant organizations should work in a coordinated manner to rein in dengue outbreak," he added.

Mushtaq said, "Dengue infection rate will increase during the rainy season, if we do not take proper measures to halt the spread of the disease."

He laid emphasis on taking integrated efforts to tackle dengue disease and said that it is impossible for a single institution to handle the menace.

IEDCR advisor suggested the people, suffering from fever or other health complications, must visit doctors for detection of dengue infection, saying early detection of the mosquito-borne disease through performing tests is the best way to get remedy from the disease.

According to a DGHS statement issued yesterday (Tuesday), a total of 24,000 dengue patients were detected between January 1 and July 18 while 125 deaths from dengue were recorded during the same period.

The DGHS is constantly mapping overall dengue situation and it is taking initiative accordingly to expand treatment facilities to handle the mosquito-borne disease.

As part of expansion of healthcare facilities, he said, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) hospital at Mohakhali with 800-bed capacity has been dedicated for ensuring medical facilities to treat dengue infected people, the top official of DGHS said.

The heath service organizations is mulling setting up makeshift testing facilities to make easy the diagnosing of patients with dengue disease as early detection is very crucial for treatment.

Kabirul Bashar, professor of Department of Zoology of Jahangirnagar University, said dengue positive cases will increase in August and September as these two months are the most suitable period for breeding of Aedes mosquito.

"We need to recruit health workers, who will oversee a number of houses in particular areas in Dhaka city throughout the year," Bashar said, adding year-long monitoring system must be introduced to destroy potential breeding sources of Aedes mosquito.

Bashar, also an eminent entomologist, said dengue has emerged as a massive health burden in the country as authorities are handling the mosquito-borne disease following traditional methods.

The entomologist urged the two city corporations of Dhaka and relevant organizations to step up their efforts in a coordinated manner for controlling the dengue outbreak.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Bangladesh, yesterday, reported 13 more deaths from dengue, the highest daily spike, bringing the death toll to 127 since Jan.

The country’s Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), also reported 1,533 new confirmed cases of dengue yesterday, raising this month’s total tally to 16,022.

The DGHS has recorded 24,000 dengue cases and 18,304 recoveries this year.

Khurshid Alam, the director-general of health services, said recently that, they are exploring all possible ways to limit the spread of the disease.

Bangladesh logged 281 dengue deaths in 2022, the highest on record, after 179 deaths recorded in 2019. Also, it recorded 62,423 dengue cases and 61,971 recoveries last year.

Dengue fever is a viral disease transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes. The disease causes an acute illness that usually follows symptoms such as headache, high fever, exhaustion, severe muscle and joint pain, swollen glands, vomiting and rash

Source: Nam News Network

More than 11,000 dengue patients were hospitalised in Bangladesh, in the first half of July, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

The country experienced its highest spike in cases last Saturday, with 1,623 new infections and seven additional deaths reported, the DGHS said.

This single-day figure is the highest since Jan this year, bringing the total number of cases to 19,454, and the death toll to 100.

As of 8:00 a.m. local time on Saturday, there were 11,476 new dengue cases recorded this month, and the death toll reached 54, indicating a rapid surge in the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh.

Dengue fever is a viral disease transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes. The disease causes an acute illness that usually follows symptoms such as, headache, high fever, exhaustion, severe muscle and joint pain, swollen glands, vomiting and rash

Source: Nam News Network

An agreement has been reached between the Purbanchal Cancer Hospital in Birtamode, Jhapa and the Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Hospital based in New Delhi, India, on the exchange of research, treatment, technology and facilities for cancer treatment.

The memorandum of understanding was signed by Dr Birendra Yadav, Medical Director of Purbanchal Cancer Hospital and Dr Sudhir Kumar Rawal, Medical Director of Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Center at a program held on Saturday.

The MoU has been signed with the objective of exchanging support on various field of medical science between two advanced hospitals in South Asia and thereby make the treatment of cancer more reliable and accessible in Nepal, said Dr Yadav.

According to the agreement, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Hospital will provide telemedicine services to the patients undergoing treatment at the Purbanchal Cancer Hospital, while doctors at the hospital will be trained in robotic surgery.

There was a compulsion to come to India for reliable treatment of cancer but with the help of advanced treatment methods and equipment in the Purbanchal Cancer Hospital, there is a possibility that patients will get better treatment in Nepal itself, said Dr Rawal. The number of Nepalis coming to our hospital for cancer treatment is around 15 percent, he added.

Concessions will be provided to patients who need additional treatment in New Delhi on the referral of the Purbanchal Hospital.

Speaking at the MoU exchange program, Director of B&C Hospital, Prof Dr Umesh Sharma expressed the belief that Nepali patients will get better cancer treatment through the cooperation and expansion of relationship with Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Hospital.

Public relations officer of the hospital, Pramis Giri, shared that around 200 patients are receiving healthcare services daily at the hospital. The Purbanchal Cancer Hospital was established in 2020.

Source: National News Agency Nepal

As part of its dengue prevention drive, Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) has fined two institutions Taka 20,000 for keeping mosquito breeding spots in the city here today.

The RCC conducted a mobile court in different parts of the city, including Padma Residential area, Upabhadra, Darikharbona and Upashahar road, to detect the mosquito breeding spots.

The court found Ad Dween Properties Limited and Babul Feeling Station at Padma Residential area guilty of the charge and fined Taka 10,000 to these institutions as the court detected Addis mosquito and its larvae.

Apart from this, the mobile court fined three other business establishments Taka 11,000 for keeping construction materials on the road and footpath.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Lumpy skin disease has been detected in Manang district. A veterinarian at the Veterinary Hospital and Livestock Service Expert Centre, Manang, Narayan Kusum said the lumpy skin disease was detected on an ox reared by a farmer of Chame rural municipality-2, Thanchowk.

The ox had developed symptoms like high fever. He shared that they have started treatment of the ox keeping it separately from other cattle.

The lumpy skin disease was detected for the first time in Manang district. A total of 2,000 doses of vaccine against lumpy skin has been brought to Manang and they have started vaccinating cattle against lumpy skin disease of Chame rural municipality from Tuesday.

Similarly, cattle of Naso rural municipality would be vaccinated against the disease after few days. There are around 1,500 cattle in Manang district, added Kusum.

Source: National News Agency Nepal

Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) has taken

initiatives of expediting its conservancy and other cleanliness activities to

prevent the dengue spread.

The city corporation has already strengthened the activities of preventing

the breeding places of mosquitoes and generating awareness among the public

in general in this regard.

As part of their adopted measures, the RCC officials held a meeting with ward

secretaries, mosquito inspectors and supervisors at the city bhaban

conference hall today.

Chief Executive Officer Dr ABM Sharif Uddin, Secretary Moshiur Rahman, Chief

Health Officer Dr AFM Anzuman Ara Begum, Chief Revenue Officer Abu Saleh Nur-

E-Sayeed and Deputy Chief Conservancy Officer Selim Reza addressed the

meeting.

Giving direction to the ward level officers and others concerned Dr Sharif

Uddin said there is no way but to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes and

generate mass-awareness to resist dengue spread.

He asked them to expedite their activities more to attain the cherished goal.

Dr Sharif also said legal action will be taken against the owners of houses,

buildings and institutions if mosquito larvae are found in their catchment

areas.

Water stagnant in flower tub, broken utensil, abandoned tier, tin pot and

drum not to be allowed.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

A total of seven dengue patients died and 1,054 were admitted to different hospitals in the country during the past 24 hours till 8 am today.

"During the period, a total of 628 dengue patients were hospitalised in Dhaka city and 426 were admitted to different hospitals outside it," a press release of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said.

"This year, 83 deaths were reported from dengue disease while 269 died last year," the daily statement of the DGHS said.

With the new cases, the total number of patients rose to 14,897 the statement said, adding: "Some 11,511 patients were released from different hospitals this year among the total patients."

Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has recently issued comprehensive instructions on prevention of dengue infection as the mosquito- borne tropical disease has increased sharply in the current year.

According to the DGHS data, dengue infection has increased five times since January 1 to May 31, 2023.

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne illness that occurs in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Outbreaks of the disease are usually seasonal, peaking during and after the rainy season.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Health experts today at a discussion said maternal nutrition has to be maintained through ensuring calorie-rich food with adequate amount to reduce child malnutrition in the country.

Maternal nutrition is very important to break the vicious cycle of malnutrition that exits in all ages of people, they told the discussion with journalists at International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) here.

Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, Executive Director of ICDDR,B, joined open discussion with journalists about various activities of ICDDR,B and highlighted very impressive role of the international organization in health sector of Bangladesh.

He said, "Like other health issues, we are attaching highest priority to maternal nutrition to reduce child malnutrition in Bangladesh"

While presenting keynote paper, Dr SM Tafsir Hasan, Associate Scientist, Nutrition Research Division of ICDDR,B, said, "Investment to reduce undernutrition in women are important not only for women's health but also for the health and nutrition of their children."

"Although we are facing overweight or obesity, undernutrition among women in Bangladesh remains a concern," he added.

In his keynote paper, Dr Mustafa Mahfuz of ICDDR,B laid emphasis on dietary adequacy during pregnancy period of women as they need to have more food calorie than other women.

Animal protein, fat, carbohydrate and zink consummation was lower in urban women than the rural women, he said.

According to the ICDDR,B, in Bangladesh, half of all women suffer from anemia, mostly nutritional in origin. More than half of the population is affected by malnutrition in the country, it added.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

With 1,192 cases of dengue and one fatality from the viral infection recorded in the past four months, experts have suggested one and all to remain safe from it and prevent its further spread.

At an interaction organized by the Ministry of Health and Population, Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, Director Dr Rudra Marasini cautioned all towards increasing cases of dengue and the likelihood of it becoming an epidemic at any time.

Dr Marasini shared that a total of 1,192 people were infected with dengue as of July 8, adding that many of the cases could have gone unrecorded and unreported to the Ministry.

The statistic does not include those without symptoms and going to private health facility for treatment, he said, estimating higher number of cases in reality than the statistic.

Similarly, Dipendra Raman Singh, Director General of Department of Health Services, shared that the Ministry was working with coordinated efforts with three-tier government for prevention and cure of dengue.

He suggested destroying the possible places where the dengue-transmitting mosquitoes could lay eggs, including tyres, utensils or any containers.

The mosquito-borne viral infection is transmitted to human from mosquito of Aedes species.

Dengue was first reported in the country in 2004. Last year, 54,784 cases of dengue were reported in the country with 88 fatalities. A majority of the dengue cases (77 per cent) were reported from Bagmati Province.

High fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, nausea and rash among others are the symptoms of dengue, said senior consultant Dr Bimal Chalise.

Dr Chalise suggested admitting the patients with severe dengue infection in healthcare facilities at the earliest.

Source: National News Agency-Nepal