“We sometimes make unguarded remarks. What the health minister and the mayor said might be their personal opinions. There’s no scope of taking dengue lightly,” he said while addressing a press conference at Awami League president’s Dhanmondi political office.
“People are worried about dengue. We all should talk with restraint and responsibly, and perform our duty properly,” he further said.
This recently taken photo shows one of the patients at Kustia Sadar Hospital for treatment. Photo: UNB
Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque on Thursday likened the breeding capacity of Aedes mosquitos, which are responsible for dengue, with that of Rohingyas.
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sayeed Khokon on Thursday claimed that conspirators were spreading rumours about dengue.
Quader, also AL general secretary, urged party leaders and activists to concentrate on work instead of talking too much.
He said a monitoring cell has been opened at the Prime Minister’s Office to tackle the dengue outbreak and two city corporations have taken measures in this regard.
The ruling party leaders also urged all to face the dengue situation unitedly through increasing awareness without creating panic.
He also called for dealing with rumours, flood and other problems with collective efforts.
The dengue situation has remained grim this year. The government said 9,256 people were infected with dengue from January till Thursday. Nine of them have lost their lives.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection that causes flu-like illness and occasionally develops into a potentially lethal complication called severe dengue.
Dengue virus is spread to people with the bite of infected Aedes species mosquitoes.
There is no specific treatment for dengue or severe dengue, but early detection and access to proper medical care lowers fatality rates below 1 percent.