In the last 24 hours, seven dengue patients have died and 3,027 have been admitted to hospitals across Bangladesh, bringing attention to the escalating dengue crisis in the country. This comes after the highest number of dengue-related deaths in a single day was recorded on 2 September, with 21 deaths reported. The death toll from dengue infection has now crossed the 800-mark, with 846 deaths reported between January and September this year.
Out of the total number of patients, 849 were hospitalized in Dhaka city, while 2,178 were admitted to hospitals outside the capital. This year alone, 846 deaths have been reported, the highest number since dengue was first detected in Bangladesh in 2000. In comparison, 281 deaths were recorded last year.
Currently, there are 10,102 dengue patients undergoing treatment, with 3,814 in Dhaka and 6,288 outside the capital city. The outbreak has spread beyond Dhaka, as August witnessed the highest number of dengue cases outside the capital in a single month. A total of 71,976 dengue-positive cases and 342 deaths were reported in August alone.
Health experts have noted that the nature of the disease is changing, and dengue cases are gradually spreading across the entire country. Previously, dengue positive cases were primarily detected in Dhaka city, but now all 64 districts have reported positive cases.
Professor Dr. Md Golam Sharower, head of the Department of Entomology at the National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine, explained that the increase in dengue cases can be attributed to factors such as global warming and environmental changes in Bangladesh. The Aedes mosquito, which transmits the dengue virus, benefits from rising temperatures, increased rainfall, and uncontrolled urbanization.
The authorities have recorded a significant increase in dengue cases over the years. In 2019, there were 1,01,354 cases, followed by 1,405 cases in 2020, 28,429 cases in 2021, and 62,382 cases in 2022. The number of deaths also rose, with 179 deaths in 2019, seven deaths in 2020, 105 deaths in 2021, and 281 deaths in 2022.
The escalating dengue outbreak in Bangladesh highlights the urgent need for proactive measures to control the spread of the disease. Efforts should focus on improving public awareness, implementing effective mosquito control strategies, and addressing the environmental factors that contribute to the proliferation of Aedes mosquitoes.
Sources:
– Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS)
– Professor Dr. Md Golam Sharower, National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM)
