Biting cold leaves scores sick, crops wilting

Humans, livestock and crops alike endure the brutal onslaught of the chilling cold and dense fogs that have shrouded the country for the past week.

Hospitals across the country logged 63,021 cases of acute respiratory infection (ARI) and 173,000 cases of diarrhoea this winter, with the death toll reaching 45, according to the health directorate.

Three people died of ARI within a 24-hour period until Sunday morning, said Dr Zahidul Islam, health directorate's health emergency operation centre's in-charge.

"In the past 24 hours, 1,097 people were hospitalised with respiratory infections across the country," he said, adding that 2,578 diarrhoea hospitalisations were also reported.

Dhaka division hospitals recorded the highest number of cases, with 373 ARI and 413 diarrhoea admissions during the past 24 hours.

"Children and older adults are particularly vulnerable to winter illnesses," Dr Islam said, urging them to seek immediate medical attention if they face any health complications.

Meantime, the met office anticipated dense fog shrouding the country from midnight to morning over the next three days, until January 17. There is also a forecast about rainfall in some areas thereafter, worsening the weather.

In the next three days, Meteorologist Dr Sadequl Alam predicted little change in day and night temperatures, with only slight fluctuations in overall weather conditions.

Mounting agri losses

Beyond humans, the harsh conditions have also impacted tuber crops, paddy seedlings, mustard and other winter crops, as well as livestock and poultry, according to industry insiders.

Potato farmers in the northern districts of Rangpur, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Panchagarh and Thakurgaon fear the spread of fungal diseases like blight due to the prolonged absence of sunlight in the past week.

Hafizul Alam Roman, a potato farmer in Nilphamari's Ramnagar union, planned to harvest in mid-February. "Late blight has already affected parts of my fields, which I had to abandon," he said.

"We're trying to build sheds over the potato plants to protect them from the fog, but it's expensive."

The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE)'s field service wing (FSW) estimates that 0.44 million hectares of land are under potato cultivation this year, with the government targeting a harvest of 11.6 million tonnes.

"All extension officers and workers have been instructed to assist farmers with constructing sheds over paddy seedbeds and potato fields," said Tazul Islam Patwary, director of the DAE FSW.

"Farmers have been advised to take extra precautions with their crops and follow the advice of extension officials regarding proper treatment," he added.

He hoped that the weather conditions might improve within a week, offering some relief to farmers.

Poultry and livestock suffer

Meanwhile, poultry production has declined notably in the last one and half weeks with rising cold in places resulting in a rise in the price of chicken and eggs.

The decline in productivity has affected both farmers and consumers, said Sumon Hawlader, president of the Bangladesh Poultry Association.

He said egg and meat production dropped by 20 per cent raising production costs for farmers.

Meanwhile, broiler chicken prices shot up to Tk 210-220 a kg marking Tk 20-30 a kg hike in a week, according to the kitchen market sources.

However, cattle in the country's northern and north-western, and south-western districts are being infected with different cold-related diseases due to the bitter cold that has been prevailing over the region for the past two weeks.

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), locally known as Khura Rog, in cows and goat pneumonia, is spreading fast, forcing farmers to invest extra efforts and money to protect the cattle.

Milk production has declined as the cattle are suffering from disease as well as malnutrition while goats are losing weight and is succumbing death, said farmers.

"My three cows have been infected with the disease this Janaury. I am worried about the rest eight of my cattle," Aminur Rahman, a farmer of Shatibari in Rangpur, said.

Aminur said he already spent Tk 2500 to buy antibiotics to treat the animals but yet to get results.

Julfikar Ali, a goat rearer at Pirganj in Thakurgaon said eight of his goats have been caught by pneumonia recently due to this harsh cold and of them two died.

Upazila veterinary officer has prescribed for some medicine which I have applied, he said.

He said goats which were not vaccinated are in high risk.

Contacted, secretary general of Bangladesh Veterinary Association Dr Mohammad Habibur Rahman Mollah, said when a cow is infected with FMD, it cannot take food properly and gradually become weaker and thus, fail to produce regular milk.

Ox might also be infected and its weight loss caused severe losses to farmers, he said.

He said FMD has vaccine and it is the best way to prevent the disease.

The cattle which have not been vaccinated are vulnerable to this fatal disease during the winter.

He said goats should also be vaccinated to prevent pneumonia or other fatal disease like PPR.

Cold wave likely to continue

Meanwhile, in the last 24 hours, Dinajpur recorded the lowest temperature in the country at 8.5 degrees Celsius followed by Tetulia in Panchagarh 8.6, Chuadnaga 9.7, Nilphamari 10.2 degree Celsius.

The capital city's temperature hovered between 14 degree and 18 degree Celsius during the period.

Met Office said a moderate to thick fog might continue until January 16 and for this air navigation, inland river transport and road communication might disrupt temporarily due to fog.

It said a mild cold wave was sweeping over the districts of Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Panchagarh and Chuadanga which might continue for next twenty four hours commencing from Sunday evening.

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