Dengue death toll rises to 202

Two more deaths were reported from dengue in the 24 hours till this morning (2 October), raising the number of fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh to 202 this year.

During the same period, 396 more patients were hospitalised with the viral fever, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 48,228, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Public health expert Dr M Mushtuq Hosain told The Business Standard, "Due to conventional approaches in tackling dengue, infections and deaths are not decreasing."

"Since there are now intermittent rains, dengue transmission may rise further after the rainfall subsides," he added.

"If mosquito control measures are not intensified, the dengue situation may worsen over the next two months," Dr Mushtuq further said.

Of the two recent deaths, one was a male child aged between 0-6 and the other a female aged around 26-30. 

One had been under treatment at DNCC Dedicated Covid-19 Hospital, while the other was at Chattogram Medical College Hospital.

According to the latest data, the new cases reported were as follows: 87 in Barishal Division (outside city corporation), 96 in Chattogram Division (outside city corporation), 90 in Dhaka Division (outside city corporation), 52 in Dhaka North City Corporation, 56 in Dhaka South City Corporation, and 15 in Rajshahi Division (outside city corporation).

Last year, dengue claimed 575 lives. Currently, 2,344 patients are undergoing treatment at different hospitals across the country.