The dengue outbreak in Bangladesh has taken a worrisome turn as the number of cases and fatalities continue to rise, signalling an alarming trend this year. The total number of fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh 114 this year which is 05 times higher compared to 2022. According to the media, dengue has already spread in 63 districts of the country. Public health experts believe that the dengue situation is getting complicated and due to the continuous deterioration of the situation, there is a risk of dengue affecting a large number of people this year.
In Dhaka city, only 63 hospitals (20 public and 43 private) out of several hundred hospitals/clinics are assigned to report dengue cases to the current surveillance system. Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute opened a separate dengue cell and 800-bed Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Hospital has been declared as a dengue dedicated hospital to cope with the pressure of patients. The government has asked all medical colleges and public hospitals in the country to open dengue wards and corners amid the rising numbers of infections and fatalities across the country.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), this year the density in number of mosquitoes is much higher than in 2019-2020. This year, the monsoon has come late, and it is expected to end later than the usual years previously. The dengue season is expected to be at least as long as last year which can be led up to November.
- On 16 July 2023, a total of 1,424 patients were admitted to the hospital due to dengue.
- As of 16 July 2023, overall, the total number stood at 20,878 patients who were admitted to the hospital and a total of 106 patients died due to dengue infection.
From 18 June to 27 June 2023, a pre monsoon survey was conducted by the DGHS, covering 3,150 households across 98 wards in the two city corporations of Dhaka. According to the survey findings, 20.04 percent of houses under the Dhaka North City Corporation and 15.47 percent of houses under the Dhaka South City Corporation were found to have Aedes mosquito larvae.
According to the data below, it is identified that this year July’s number of dengue cases and the number of death cases are higher than the previous two years within Dhaka City Corporation. Dhaka city alone accounted for about 80 per cent of deaths and 64.5 per cent of this year’s total hospitalizations.
According to Health Minister, the number of patients infected with dengue in Bangladesh is five times higher than the number in the previous year in the past five months.
Comparing the incident data from 2021-2023 of all 8 divisions, it is determined that the incident number is highest in Chattagram, Dhaka and Barishal. According to DGHS data, the total official deaths this year is 114, 87 were reported in Dhaka city, 17 in Chattogram, 3 in Mymensingh, 2 in both Rajshahi and Khulna, and 1 each in Rangpur and Barishal divisions.
Symptoms of Dengue Fever in Bangladesh:
- High fever, severe headache.
- Joint/muscle pain, nausea/vomiting.
- Skin rash, mild bleeding.
- Can progress to severe form, including dengue shock syndrome.
- Cases of co-infection with other diseases are common.
Treatment of Dengue Fever in Bangladesh:
- No specific treatment.
- Rest, hydration, pain relief.
- Severe cases may require hospitalization.
- Monitoring for complications, including fluid overload and bleeding.
- Blood transfusions may be necessary in severe cases.