The country’s dengue death toll is at its highest in 22 years

Reasons for high mortality rate:

• Repeat the infection to increase the problem
• Patients who treat the flu at home, delay hospitalization
• Collapse of dengue prevention efforts
• Most people affected are people aged 16 – 35
• Almost all 64 districts are affected

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This year, the country is witnessing the highest number of dengue deaths since 2003 as a total of 34,121 dengue patients have been hospitalized with 177 deaths reported across the country till yesterday.

The death rate reached 0.52%, surpassing last year’s 0.49%. In 2023, Bangladesh saw a staggering 211,683 hospitalizations and 1,030 deaths from January 1 to October 3.

Although 2024 had fewer cases overall, the number of dead until yesterday is the second highest in the record, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Health Emergency Operation Center and Control Room.

Expressing concern over the death rate, public health experts have said that infection is one of the main reasons behind the high death rate.

They said that in the past few years, dengue has been on the rise in Bangladesh, causing many people to be infected at least once. They added that the risk of death increases significantly when a person catches dengue for the second or third time.

Microbiologist and Professor Dr Kabirul Bashar identified three main reasons for the high death rate.

“First, many people who have been infected before, even without their knowledge, and have been infected a second or third time, are at high risk of serious, life-threatening complications,” he said. many.

Second, many patients treat their fever at home and delay hospitalization until it is too late, which increases the risk of death.

“The third reason is that the health services and dengue prevention efforts at the urban and local government levels in the country have deteriorated. Many hospitals transfer patients to other medical facilities, leaving patients to leave the hospital. one after the other, they increase their risk; “he added.

Data from the DGHS shows that dengue deaths have been reported every month this year, with the highest number of deaths, 80, occurring in September. According to the DGHS report, 14 people died in January, three in February, five in March, two in April, 12 in May, eight in June, 12 in July and 27 in August.

In the first three days of October alone, 16 deaths were reported. In the 24 hours till yesterday morning, 1,022 new patients were admitted to hospitals, with most cases in Dhaka, and three deaths reported, two occurred in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) areas, and the other in Barishal Division.

According to hospital data, although 37% of hospital patients are women and 63% are men, the death rate shows that 51.4% of deaths are among women and 48.6% among men.

The age group most affected by the disease is between the ages of 16 and 35, with 40% of cases occurring in this age group.

The World Health Organization in a statement yesterday said that the number of reported dengue cases has almost doubled every year since 2021, with more than 12.3 million cases, including more than 7,900 deaths. recorded in the first eight months of 2024.

Dr MH Chowdhury Lenin, a public health expert, criticized the city organization and local government’s efforts to control the spread of Aedes mosquitoes.

“We expected an increase in dengue cases from the beginning of the year, however the village businesses and local governments failed to take effective measures against Aedes mosquitoes. Mosquito control programs are organizations of cities and local governments has almost stopped,” he said. .

He also pointed out that this year no research is being done on dengue.

“The Directorate General of Health Services does not provide any research findings on the current form of dengue. As the monsoon season is prolonged, water is accumulating in the areas, which leads to an increase in mosquitoes,” said Lenin, adding that, “An integrated plan is needed from the central government to control the spread of Aedes mosquitoes.”

He continued, “If for three consecutive days, we can clean all residential areas, public areas, and surrounding water areas and eliminate mosquitoes, we can reduce the number of mosquitoes significantly.”

All of last year, 1,705 people died of dengue in Bangladesh, making 2023 the deadliest year on record with 321,179 reported cases.

However, public health experts believe that without strong preventive measures, this year’s killings may continue to increase.

They fear that although the number of people infected with dengue has increased from 6,500 to 21,000 in September, the number of infected people may rise even more in October. The outbreak is expected to continue into November.

Epidemiologist Kabirul told TBS, “This year, due to limited activities and research on dengue, the disease has spread across the country. There has been a high number of dengue cases in Cox’s Bazar, Barguna , Chandpur, Mymensingh and Narsingdi compared to previous years.”

DGHS data shows that the dengue epidemic this year has spread to all 64 districts of the country. However, analysis of past data from DGHS shows that in previous years, dengue has not spread to all 64 districts this time.

The department’s data also shows that the highest number of dengue cases was reported in Dhaka South City Corporation, with 7,651 patients. Dhaka North City Corporation reported 6,798 cases, while 4,849 cases were reported in areas outside Dhaka within the Dhaka division.

In addition, 7,055 patients were admitted to hospitals in Chattogram division, 2,983 in Barishal division, and 2,667 in Khulna division.

In terms of deaths, DSCC recorded the highest number of dengue cases, with 95 people losing their lives. In addition, 25 people died in DNCC area, 21 in Chattogram division, 18 in Barishal division, and 10 in Khulna division.