The simultaneous rise of Dengue, COVID-19, and Chikungunya is sparking widespread panic among the public. People are becoming anxious as soon as they develop a fever, fearing that they might have contracted one of these diseases.
Parents of young children are particularly worried. To keep themselves safe, some are turning to mosquito nets, others are focusing on mosquito eradication, while some are using face masks.
Doctors have stated that elderly individuals, people suffering from long-term chronic diseases, children, pregnant women, and those with weak immune systems are at greater risk.
Therefore, if anyone develops a fever, it should not be ignored. It is essential to seek medical advice.
Experts say that dengue cases are rapidly increasing across the country. Additionally, the rise of new variants of the coronavirus is adding to the panic surrounding COVID-19.
On the other hand, many people are also contracting Chikungunya, a mosquito-borne disease. Since the symptoms of Chikungunya are similar to those of Dengue, patients often do not realize they are affected.
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) conducted a pre-monsoon survey on Dengue, which revealed that in 13 wards of the two city corporations in the capital Dhaka, the density of larvae of the Aedes mosquito, which spreads Dengue, is above the standard threshold.
This data was gathered during a pre-monsoon survey conducted from February to March this year by the National Malaria Elimination and Aedes-borne Disease Control Program under the DGHS.
According to the DGHS, from January 1 to June 24 of this year, 8,544 people across the country have been infected with Dengue, and 34 people have died.
The Barisal division's Barguna district has become a Dengue "red zone." Hospitals are reasonably prepared to handle the severity of Dengue. Among the affected, 58.8% are men, and 41.2% are women.
Experts suggest that although the number of deaths this year is slightly lower compared to last year, the number of infections is much higher. This means the situation could be more critical than last year.
They also note that during the monsoon season, from June to September every year, the number of mosquitoes increases in Bangladesh.
Given the pattern of previous years, there are concerns that Dengue could reach a severe level again in August-September this year. The alternating rain and humid heat this year have created favorable conditions for the spread of Dengue.
This year, the government's Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) has released the results of a survey on the vectors of Dengue.
The survey found that out of 99 wards in the two city corporations, 13 had a "Bruto Index" above 20, meaning that in these areas, more than 20% of containers had mosquito larvae. These areas are at high risk of Dengue.
The survey also found that the most mosquito larvae were found in water collected in flower pots and trays. A total of 27% of the larvae were found in such water, while 22% were in cemented water tanks, 20% in water collected on floors, 13% in plastic drums, 11% in iron pipes, and 10% in plastic containers.
On the severity of Dengue, Professor Tahmina Shirin, Director of IEDCR, said that a single test can diagnose Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika in a patient with fever.
While they identified Zika virus-positive patients last year, they haven't found any this year. However, since October last year, Chikungunya patients have been identified, and 45% of fever patients this year have tested positive for Chikungunya.
Doctors emphasize that although the symptoms of these three diseases seem similar, there are five key differences between the symptoms of Dengue, COVID-19, and Chikungunya:
- Fever: Dengue typically starts with a high fever, lasting 4 to 5 days, with temperatures ranging from 102°F to 104°F. COVID-19 usually causes a mild fever for 2 to 7 days (100°F to 101°F), while Chikungunya can cause a mild to high fever lasting 2 to 4 days.
- Pain: In Dengue, patients usually experience severe pain in various parts of the body, including the head, behind the eyes, muscles, and spine. COVID-19 causes mild to moderate pain in the head and muscles, while Chikungunya results in severe pain in the joints.
- Rash and Bleeding: Dengue can cause a variety of rashes and, in some cases, bleeding. In Chikungunya, rashes begin to appear 2 to 3 days after illness onset and usually subside within 7 days. COVID-19 does not cause these symptoms.
- Vomiting and Diarrhea: Vomiting and diarrhea are common in Dengue. COVID-19 patients may also experience vomiting or diarrhea, but these symptoms are not typically seen in Chikungunya.
- Low Blood Pressure: Nearly 50% of Dengue patients experience low blood pressure, and some may suffer from kidney, brain, or heart failure. In contrast, COVID-19 does not usually cause a drop in blood pressure, but lung failure can occur. Chikungunya does not affect blood pressure or cause organ failure.
The DGHS regularly updates information on Dengue and COVID-19 cases and deaths, but there is no such information available for Chikungunya. Consequently, accurate data on Chikungunya infections is not available. Entomologists say that Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are the vectors for Chikungunya. The Chikungunya virus belongs to the Togavirus family and is an arbovirus due to its mosquito-borne nature. Chikungunya spread widely in Dhaka and several other areas in 2017. However, due to the absence of a reporting system, the exact number of cases at that time is not known. Public health experts estimate that at least 100,000 people were infected with Chikungunya during that period.
As of this year, 473 people have been infected with COVID-19. Since the beginning of the pandemic, a total of 2,052,018 people have contracted COVID-19 in the country. There have been 19 deaths due to COVID-19 in 2024 so far. The total number of COVID-19 deaths in the country stands at 29,518.
Regarding the preparedness of vaccines and hospitals to handle COVID-19, Professor Md. Abu Jafar, Director-General of the DGHS, mentioned that since there was no COVID-19 for two years, some of the activities had slowed down, but now they are fully operational. He stated that 1.7 million COVID-19 vaccines have been delivered to vaccination centers, and COVID-19 detection kits have been distributed to various government hospitals.
Dr. Mushtaq Hossain, a public health and pandemic expert, believes that while there may be a slight increase in COVID-19 cases, it will not become a serious issue. However, he added that if Dengue is not managed properly, it could become a difficult situation to handle.
