C T Online Desk: Monsoon season is known to be a high-risk period for dengue infections, but even though we are well into November, the threat has yet to pass this year.
A total of 48,529 dengue cases were reported this year, with 3,189 patients currently receiving treatment across the country. Furthermore, over 200 deaths caused by the viral disease have been recorded this year — an all-time high for Bangladesh.
These are not the kinds of records we should be setting out to break.
Since dengue season began this year, it has been repeatedly editorialized by this newspaper that preventative measures against dengue must be heightened to avoid more deaths caused by a now-familiar disease.
While we have seen some semblance of precautionary measures being taken by the authorities in question, clearly none of those have helped curb the spread.
How many more times does the alarm need to be sounded for us to take this matter more seriously?
The lack of sincerity in our efforts to beat this mosquito-borne disease is not only costing us countless lives, it is also an indication of the return of this deadly dengue season in coming years.
We cannot take this lightly any longer. Every death caused by dengue is one too many, and the authorities need to acknowledge the danger and act pro-actively.
Drives to identify and destroy Aedes mosquito breeding grounds must be doubled down on, and medical facilities for infected patients must be improved in order to avoid any more casualties.
The authorities must also begin preparations to prevent dengue infections from getting out of hand ahead of next season. Long-term and thorough planning is the only way for us to guarantee that no more lives are lost at the hands of this disease.
We have been negligent for far too long; it’s time to rectify that.
