Dengue situation worsens as 5 more die, over 1,100 infected for two consecutive days

Although the typical dengue season has ended, as the monsoon season has officially faded away, the outbreak shows no signs of slowing down. For two consecutive days, Bangladesh has reported five dengue-related deaths daily, while new infections have consistently exceeded 1,100.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), five more people died from dengue in the 24 hours leading up to this morning (3 November). During this period, 1,147 new patients were hospitalised, bringing the total number of cases this year to 72,822.

With the latest fatalities, the overall death toll from the mosquito-borne disease has climbed to 288 this year.

Among the recent deaths, three occurred at Kumudini Hospital in Tangail, one at Kurmitola Medical College Hospital, and another at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

August to October are typically considered the risky months for dengue in Bangladesh. However, despite the season officially ending, infections remain high.

When asked about the continuing surge, public health expert Dr M Mushtuq Husain told The Business Standard, the persistent rainfall has prolonged mosquito breeding, increasing dengue transmission even after the usual season. 

Moreover, reliance on traditional mosquito control methods has failed to yield results this year. 

According to health experts, to combat dengue effectively, control and treatment efforts must be decentralised. Thousands of volunteers should be mobilised nationwide to keep the environment clean.

Currently, 1,076 patients are receiving treatment at hospitals in Dhaka, while 3,082 are admitted to healthcare facilities across the country.

DGHS data also shows that 61.8% of this year's dengue patients are male, while 38.2% are female. Among the deceased, 53.2% were men and 46.8% women.

Last year, Bangladesh recorded 575 dengue deaths and 101,214 cases, with 100,040 recoveries reported nationwide.