Bangladesh Faces Dengue Crisis as Death Toll Reaches 107

Dhaka, September 3: Bangladesh is grappling with a severe dengue outbreak, with at least five more fatalities reported on Wednesday. This brings the total death toll for the year to 107 due to this mosquito-borne illness.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), these deaths occurred within the previous 24 hours leading up to Wednesday morning. During this same period, 1,110 new patients were admitted to hospitals across the country.

Reports from the Bangladeshi daily UNB indicate that the latest fatalities were recorded in the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), as well as in the Mymensingh and Barisal divisions.

Amid the escalating health crisis, August saw a significant surge in dengue infections, marking the third-highest monthly number of cases and deaths since the first major outbreak in 2000.

The Daily Star, a leading newspaper in Bangladesh, reported that last month alone, there were 43 dengue-related deaths and 20,536 hospital admissions, making it the third most affected month in the past 26 years in terms of both cases and fatalities.

Dengue has emerged as a serious public health issue in Bangladesh, primarily transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

Professor Kabirul Bashar from Jahangirnagar University emphasized that the number of cases may continue to rise until October. He urged authorities to identify affected areas at the neighborhood level and to expedite mosquito control measures, community mobilization, and awareness campaigns.

Entomologist GM Saifur Rahman from the National University in Dhaka noted that inadequate mosquito control efforts across the country are contributing to the risk of further increases in cases over the next two months.

Associate Professor HM Najmul Ahsan from Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital stated that several factors contribute to dengue-related deaths, including the patient’s condition, the virus, and the quality of medical management. He remarked, “By the time some patients reach the government emergency department, their blood pressure can be extremely low or negligible.”