Dengue fever is intensifying this October, with 38 fatalities reported within the first 11 days. In 2024, the disease has claimed 201 lives, and a staggering 40,895 people have been hospitalized due to infections. Despite the annual occurrence of dengue-related deaths, authorities have been slow to respond.
Dr. Kabirul Bashar, a zoology professor and entomologist at Jahangirnagar University,said that the rise in dengue cases observed last September signals a worsening situation. He warned that the dengue outbreak will continue in October and stressed the importance of enhancing control measures. With the rainy season creating ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes, he urged the elimination of all potential breeding sites. Dr. Bashar emphasized the need for effective hotspot management and preventing mosquito larvae development in uninfected areas. He also called for improved waste management, asserting that implementing these measures could reduce patient numbers.
The country first experienced a major dengue outbreak in 2000, and annual outbreaks have followed ever since, except for 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a significant drop in dengue cases, with no reported deaths that year. Public health experts suggest that the intense presence of the coronavirus may have overshadowed the dengue virus. However, dengue cases began to rise again in 2021, even before the pandemic ended.
Throughout 2023, the nation faced a severe dengue crisis, with a total of 321,179 hospitalizations and 1,705 reported fatalities. In a recent update from the Health Department, 490 individuals were hospitalized due to dengue, with two new deaths confirmed yesterday. Of those affected, 225 cases were reported from the two city corporation areas of Dhaka. Additional cases included 27 in Barishal, 59 in Chattogram, 122 in Dhaka division, 35 in Khulna, 16 in Mymensingh, and 6 in Rangpur.
This year, as in the past two years, the dengue DEN-2 serotype is primarily affecting the population. However, as a result of previous infections, many people have developed antibodies. The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) conducted an analysis of samples from 50 dengue patients between July and September, finding that 69.20% were infected with the DEN-2 serotype.
Bd-pratidin English/Afia
