This year has already seen the worst outbreak of dengue in the history of our nation, with the death toll now hovering around 1,600, but the fact that dengue -- which usually starts subsiding in the month September -- is still claiming lives as we approach the season of winter should be ringing alarm bells throughout our health care infrastructure.

In fact, last Wednesday, dengue claimed 24 lives in one day -- the highest number of single-day casualties from the mosquito-borne disease in the history of our nation. Exactly how did matters get this bad