Highest Dengue death, cases recorded in a single day this year
Bangladesh also recorded a yearly-high 1,571 dengue hospitalisations in the last 24 hours.
Bangladesh recorded its highest daily dengue death toll and infection count of the year, with nine patients dying from the mosquito-borne disease in the last 24 hours, taking the country's death toll to 130.
A total of 1,571 new patients were admitted to hospitals during the period, according to a press release issued today (8 September) by the health emergency operation centre and control room of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The new hospital admissions surpassed the previous daily high of 1,558 cases recorded on 6 September. The cumulative number of dengue cases this year has now reached 45,475.
Intermittent rainfall and temperatures favourable for the breeding of dengue-carrying Aedes mosquitoes could keep the outbreak severe throughout September and October, said medical entomologist Kabirul Bashar, a professor of zoology at Jahangirnagar University.
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"Dengue is no longer confined to Dhaka," Bashar told TBS, noting that Aedes mosquitoes have spread to districts, upazilas and even many villages – which is contributing to the rapid rise in dengue cases outside Dhaka as well.
Delaying treatment can lead to shock: Experts
Dr Quazi Ahmed Zaki, director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), urged people to seek medical attention promptly after developing a fever to reduce the risk of dengue-related deaths.
Individuals and communities must take an active role in dengue prevention rather than relying solely on government efforts.
He advised seeking medical attention within 24 to 48 hours of the onset of fever.
"If needed, an NS1 test can be done to confirm dengue, and patients who test positive should receive treatment without any delay," Dr Zaki told TBS.
Delaying treatment for a week or more after the onset of fever and other symptoms can lead to severe complications and shock, he warned.
Dr Zaki also stressed that individuals and communities must take an active role in dengue prevention rather than relying solely on government efforts.
As Aedes mosquitoes cannot be completely eradicated, he said, potential breeding sites around homes and workplaces must be destroyed promptly.
"Every day, people should remove stagnant water from their homes and surrounding areas, turn over containers and clean places that could serve as mosquito breeding grounds," he said.
He called for turning the destruction of mosquito breeding sites into a social movement, saying coordinated efforts could significantly reduce dengue transmission.
"We need to work very quickly on community health engagement," he said.
Of the nine deaths, one was from Barishal Division, one from Dhaka Division, three from Dhaka South City Corporation, two from Khulna Division and one from Mymensingh Division.
Three-month campaign
A three-month special cleanliness and public awareness programme to prevent dengue will begin next Saturday, with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman likely to inaugurate the campaign.
Considering the next three months a high-risk period for dengue, the prime minister today called on people across the country to actively participate in the programme to help contain the outbreak. He gave the directive at a meeting on dengue prevention at the Secretariat.
