Patients with dengue are not using mosquito nets in the dengue ward of Jashore 250-bed General Hospital, raising concerns about the risk of the virus spreading to other patients. A shortage of space has made it difficult for hospital authorities to isolate dengue patients adequately, leaving them alongside people receiving treatment for other illnesses.
The hospital has allocated 20 beds for dengue patients in a corner of a general ward. However, the number of patients frequently exceeds the available capacity. On Tuesday, 27 dengue patients were receiving treatment in the ward, while the number had reached 45 at one point last month. Although the figure has fallen somewhat, the hospital continues to admit between 25 and 30 dengue patients a day.
The overcrowding has created additional challenges for infection prevention. With more patients than available beds, some are forced to stay on the floor, making it harder to maintain appropriate arrangements for their care and protection.
Ahsan Kabir, the hospital’s Resident Medical Officer (RMO), acknowledged the risks associated with the situation. He said mosquito nets were supplied according to the number of beds, leaving patients accommodated on the floor without allocated nets.
He also said that some patients who had been given mosquito nets were not using them, despite being instructed to do so.
The shortage of space is not limited to the dengue ward. Although the hospital is officially designated as a 250-bed facility, it has 274 beds when those in the coronary care unit are included. Nevertheless, the number of admitted patients regularly exceeds 800.
On Tuesday, 822 patients were receiving treatment at the hospital. With the available beds occupied, patients were also staying on floors, staircases and ramps. Such overcrowding makes it difficult to separate patients according to their illnesses and ensure adequate space for safe treatment.
The situation is particularly concerning because dengue is transmitted through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. When a mosquito bites a person carrying the virus and subsequently bites another person, it can transmit the infection. Keeping dengue patients protected from mosquito bites is therefore an important part of preventing further transmission.
In a crowded hospital, the absence of mosquito nets can increase exposure to mosquito bites, potentially putting other patients at risk. People receiving treatment for other illnesses may be especially vulnerable to the consequences of additional infection, while overcrowding can complicate routine patient care and the implementation of preventive measures.
Mosquito nets, environmental cleanliness and the elimination of mosquito breeding sites are important components of dengue prevention. However, maintaining these measures becomes more difficult when patients have to share limited space and some are accommodated outside designated beds.
The circumstances at Jashore General Hospital highlight the challenges faced by healthcare facilities when patient numbers exceed their capacity. Although the hospital supplies mosquito nets according to its available beds, patients staying on the floor remain without the same provision. Ensuring that dengue patients consistently use mosquito nets is another challenge acknowledged by the hospital’s authorities.
Addressing the problem requires attention to both patient behaviour and the hospital’s limited capacity. Adequate mosquito-net supplies for patients beyond the designated beds, better separation of dengue cases where possible, and stronger adherence to infection-prevention measures could help reduce the risks.
With dengue patients continuing to arrive daily, ensuring protection from mosquito bites is essential not only for those receiving treatment but also for others sharing the hospital environment. The pressure on beds and facilities, however, remains a major obstacle to maintaining those safeguards.
