Health Minister Zahid Maleque has said the demand of saline for dengue patients is increased amid a surge in the number of patients in the country.

He said hospitals currently need around 40,000 bags of oral saline every day and 12 lakh bags of saline are required per month. But the saline manufacturing companies do not have the capacity to meet the monthly demand of saline.

The minister also informed the media that the ministry has been instructed to import saline from abroad if required.

The minister told this to reporters after visiting the dengue unit of the 250-bed Manikganj General Hospital on Saturday.

He also stressed on eradication of the breeding grounds of Aedes mosquito. Maleque said city corporations and municipalities have the responsibility to spray insecticide regularly in places where water accumulates or on open drains.

He said spraying will not be effective if it is only done when an outbreak occurs. It should be done throughout the year and only then mosquitoes will come under control as well as dengue will come under control.

He also asked the city dwellers to clean their yard regularly to eradicate the mosquito menace.

The minister said that an instruction has been issued to keep 5,000 beds ready all over the country and that many beds are still vacant.

He also informed that if there is a shortage of dengue testing kits in any government hospital it will be supplied quickly as per demand.

Deputy Commissioner of Manikganj Rehana Akter, Civil Surgeon Dr. Moazzem Ali Khan Chowdhury, Residential Medical officer Kazi AKM Rasel, were present, among others.