Dengue situation worsens in Bangladesh, 233 dead so far and 75,730 patients hospitalised

The dengue outbreak continues to worsen across Bangladesh, with 2,036 new patients hospitalised and eight deaths reported in the past 24 hours, according to a statement issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on September 28.

Including the latest deaths, the number of people who have died from dengue in Bangladesh between January and September 28 this year has reached 233, while the cumulative number of dengue patients hospitalised has risen to 75,730.

Of the eight deaths reported in the latest 24-hour period, two were from Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), while Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), Khulna, Chattogram, Barishal, Rajshahi and Rangpur each reported one death, according to the DGHS.

Dengue-related deaths have increased sharply in September, with 136 people dying during the first 28 days of the month. This is the highest number of dengue deaths recorded in a single month so far this year.

Dhaka recorded the highest number of new dengue hospitalisations during the latest 24-hour period, with 206 patients admitted in Dhaka North and 169 in Dhaka South. Another 432 patients were hospitalised in other areas of Dhaka Division.

In other divisions, 323 patients were hospitalised in Chattogram, 267 in Khulna, 254 in Barishal, 197 in Rajshahi, 115 in Mymensingh, 62 in Rangpur and 11 in Sylhet, according to DGHS data.

Meanwhile, 2,064 dengue patients were discharged from hospitals in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of recoveries this year to 70,258.
Although dengue-related deaths remained relatively low from January to May, the number began to rise steadily from June. Thirteen people died in June, 36 in July and 43 in August, while the number reached 136 in just 28 days of September.

Health experts have attributed the rise in dengue cases to several possible factors, including weak control of Aedes mosquito breeding sites, some infections going undetected, patients reaching hospitals late and repeat dengue infections. They have also stressed the need for effective elimination of mosquito breeding sites and stronger disease-prevention measures involving public participation in the long term.

Although dengue was previously concentrated mainly in Dhaka, health-related data released in recent days indicate that the disease is now spreading to other parts of the country, with the number of patients also increasing in areas outside Dhaka.

Source: Daily Star, bdnews24, BSS, UNB