Although outbreak of dengue is common during every monsoon since 2000, the year it first became an epidemic, this year the situation has taken a severe turn as the mosquito-borne disease has already infected more people than ever before in a calendar year, and claimed nine lives to boot, according to the government's official count. However, as explained in our briefing, the actual number of fatalities is much higher.

The rate of infection however, does not necessarily mean it is more fatal. The overwhelming majority of dengue cases can in fact be treated at home.

Besides infecting more and more people in the capital on a daily basis, this year has also witnessed an increased tendency on the part of the virus to spread outside Dhaka.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sayeed Khokon on July 25 said the prevalence of dengue virus in Dhaka "cannot yet be called an epidemic", but that is hardly backed up by the number of patients infected by dengue at different government and private hospitals.

Official figures show that 15,369 people have been infected with dengue between January 1 and July 30. Previously the highest number of people infected in a single year was 10,148 in 2018. Many hospitals outside the capital have also reported dengue cases.

The worsening dengue situation with 850 patients' admission to hospitals daily has created panic among the city-dwellers.

Meanwhile, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Friday validated the fear by saying that there is no scope to take dengue lightly.

Sayeed Khokon, Mayor, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) on July 20 urged city dwellers to remain alert and not panic, claiming that the dengue prevalence in Bangladesh is under control compared to other countries like the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia

Md Atiqul Islam, Mayor, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), offered free dengue tests at 52 health centres. Anyone can get the health centres' location by calling the control room at 01932665544.

Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital Assistant Prof Dr Mostafizur Rahman told our sister newsagency UNB that he does not suggest all dengue patients get admitted to hospitals.

"Only 10 percent patients require hospitalisation and rest can be treated at home,"Dr Mostafizur added.

According to the World Health Organization, dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus, which is transmitted by female mosquitoes mainly of the species Aedes aegypti. Symptoms typically begin three to fourteen days after infection. This may include a high fever, headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash. Up to this point the fever can generally be treated at home.

In a small proportion of cases, the disease develops into severe dengue, also known as dengue haemorrhagic fever, resulting in bleeding, low levels of blood platelets and blood plasma leakage. These are the cases that require hospitalisation, in line with Dr Mostafizur's advice.