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The number of Chikungunya cases has been climbing sharply in Dhaka and several other urban areas, prompting fresh concerns for public health amid the ongoing monsoon, when mosquito-borne diseases tend to spread rapidly.
According to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), a total of 337 suspected cases of Chikungunya were reported through its event-based surveillance up to May 28 this year, of which 153 were confirmed through laboratory tests.
Since mid-April, the number of patients has been steadily rising. The latest IEDCR report highlighted that both suspected and confirmed cases of the viral disease began increasing notably from the second week of April, with signs of transmission spreading across multiple neighbourhoods in the capital.
The most affected areas include Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Nakhalpara, Khilkhet, Niketon, Mohammadpur, Dhanmondi, Uttara, Lalbagh, Azimpur, Hazaribagh, Shantinagar, Malibagh, Khilgaon, Mugda, Goran, Rampura and Shahjahanpur.
Health officials warn that the outbreak may worsen in the coming weeks, fuelled by continued rainfall.
"Given the absence of a routine national surveillance system for Chikungunya, limited diagnostic capacity, and its clinical overlap with dengue -- particularly during the monsoon season -- the current numbers are likely underestimating the true scale of the outbreak," the IEDCR cautioned in its report.
The recent surge has rekindled memories of the severe Chikungunya outbreak in 2017 that had left thousands debilitated for weeks.
In a worrying sign, the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) also reported a sharp rise in cases in recent weeks.
Data from its diagnostic centres show that 171 patients underwent RT-PCR tests for Chikungunya during the first three weeks of June, of whom 140 tested positive -- a detection rate of about 82 per cent.
"This is an alarming increase compared to last year," icddr,b stated in a social media post, urging Dhaka residents to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions against mosquito bites.
Many health experts believe that the actual number of cases could be much higher, as many people with symptoms opt for home-based treatments instead of hospitalisation or laboratory testing.
Lutfun Nesa, a private-sector employee and one of the victims of the disease, shared her struggle with The Financial Express. She suddenly developed high fever and joint pain in March but initially tested negative for dengue.
Suspecting Chikungunya, her doctor advised further testing - but she found herself unable to access the required tests. "I visited five different healthcare facilities, both public and private, but none could conduct the test," she said.
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