Bangladesh dengue deaths top 100, August could be worse

Dengue infections and fatalities are on the rise in Bangladesh, and health experts warn that if immediate action is not done, an even more catastrophic epidemic of the mosquito-borne illness might occur in August.

According to official data, dengue has killed 101 people and infected 24,183 so far this year, severely taxing the nation’s already overburdened healthcare system. The increase in instances has coincided with a dramatic increase in deaths. After 41 deaths in July, dengue has already claimed 19 lives in August, more than doubling the 19 deaths in June.

“The situation is critical. The virus is already widespread across the country, and without aggressive intervention, hospitals will be overwhelmed,” said Kabirul Bashar, an entomologist at Jahangirnagar University.

“August could see at least three times as many cases as July, with numbers potentially peaking in September.”

Health officials are urging people to use mosquito repellents, sleep under nets, and eliminate stagnant water where mosquitoes breed.

“We need coordinated spraying and community clean-up drives, especially in high-risk zones,” Bashar said.

Dengue is on the rise nationwide, but Dhaka is still a significant hotspot. Numerous infections from outside the capital are being reported, which puts further strain on rural healthcare facilities that can’t handle severe cases.

Physicians caution that prompt medical care is essential. To lower the risk of complications or mortality, severe abdominal discomfort, vomiting, blood, or acute exhaustion should all be treated with rapid hospitalization.

Health experts have emphasized that community involvement and government-led mosquito control will be essential in averting what might turn out to be one of Bangladesh’s worst outbreaks in recent memory, as the peak dengue season is still ahead.
2023 was the bloodiest year on record, with over 321,000 illnesses and 1,705 fatalities.