At least 50 killed, 283 000 affected as cold wave sweeps through Bangladesh

Nearly 283 000 people have been affected by different cold-related diseases across Bangladesh and at least 50 have died from November 1 to December 28, 2019. Health officials are advising people to wear warm clothes especially in the morning and in the evening. Unless emergency, children and aged people should not go out.

On December 19, a temperature of 7.9 °C (46.2 °F) was recorded in Chuadanga district. A week later, the lowest temperature of the season was recorded in Tetulia at 4.5 °C (40.1 °F) early on December 26. Tetulia is a border town in northern Bangladesh.

Dense fog in the mornings continued to disrupt traffic communication by road, waterways, and air.

The worst affected are those with low income due to lack of proper clothes while children and the elderly are prone to diseases such as pneumonia, according to Ayesha Akhter, a senior official of the government's health directorate. "Hospitals are crowded with people suffering from cold-related illnesses, such as influenza, dehydration and pneumonia."

Akhter said 33 people died from diarrhea caused by rotavirus and other diseases since November 1 and at least 17 of acute respiratory infection.

"We are advising people to wear warm clothes especially in the morning and in the evening. Unless emergency, children and aged people should not go out," Akhter said.

"Approximately 3 000 people are still in hospital for treatment," she said, adding that there is no shortage of medicine and other supplies.

Featured image credit: Ekkator TV (stillshot)