The outbreak of dengue this year is proving to be the most severe in the recorded history of Bangladesh.
In the first seven months of 2023, compared year-on-year, the number of dengue cases and deaths increased at an alarming rate, and experts are describing this situation a serious health emergency.
Data from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) shows that the number of deaths due to dengue in January-July this year was 251, compared to only ten during the same period of 2022. This indicates an over24-fold increase in dengue tolls for the period.
The number of people infected by dengue also increased massively this year.
During the January-July period of 2023, the number of infected people was 51,832, compared to only 2,660 during the same period of 2022. So, in that period, infections increased 18 times when compared year-on-year.
It should be noted that the analysis is based on DGHS dengue data released till July 31.
Speaking to The Business Post, Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) Advisor Mohammad Mushtuq Husain said, “We had recorded dengue patients even in the last winter, so there were no gaps in reported cases.
“Even if there are no more rain this year, due to the impact of urbanisation, the amount of water accumulated in different places has increased more than before. As a result, the density of Aedes mosquitoes has increased, which in turn accelerated the ongoing dengue outbreak.”
He added, “Even if there is no more rain, we are not able to reduce the number of Aedes mosquitoes, because we are not keeping our areas clean. The spread of dengue in the country's rural areas is worrying.”
An analysis of DGHS data shows that the number of dengue cases in Bangladesh exceeded 550 in January this year, but the figure later decreased in the next three months.
But from May, the situation started to worsen again. By May, the number of infected people was close to 1,000.
In June, the situation deteriorated further, and the number of infected reached around 10,000. The death toll stood at 34 during the period. The worst was in July. In that month, the number of infected reached about 44,017, while deaths rose to 206.
Mushtuq Husain said, "Last year, October-November was the peak period in terms of dengue cases. As a result, we are at a greater risk in the coming months. So the current situation can be called a health emergency.
“We have to be very careful, and focus on destroying the source of mosquitoes.”
In October last year, the number of infected people was 21,648, which was the highest of the year. And the number of dead was 86 people. In November, the number of infected people fell to 19,334, but the number of deaths rose to 113, which was the highest for that year.
In 2022, the number of dengue cases and deaths were 62,098 and 281 respectively. And in 2021, the number of deaths was 26,595 and the number of deaths was 98.
The first case of dengue in Bangladesh was recorded in 2000. That year, 93 people died of dengue and 5,551 people were admitted to hospitals due to the infection.
Dengue situation in Dhaka
Due to dense population, dengue outbreak in Dhaka is higher compared to other parts of the country. The number of infected and dead is also high here.
According to the pre-monsoon Aedes mosquito survey by the Department of Health, the presence of dengue-carrying Aedes mosquitoes is high in all areas of the two city corporations of Dhaka.
Among those, 55 wards are at high risk of dengue. Earlier in 2019, dengue took its worst form. At that time 21 wards were at high risk.
The Department of Health sources say this time there is a fear that the dengue season will be prolonged.
For mosquito control, the two city corporations of Dhaka spent Tk 98.85 crore rupees in the FY23, out of which the North City Corporation spent Tk 67.75 crore and the South City Corporation spent Tk 31.1 crore.
In the announced budget for FY24, North City Corporation plans to spend Tk 84.5 crore on mosquito control. Meanwhile, South Seat Corporation announced an expenditure of Tk 46.75 crore in the budget for such issues.
24-hour toll
Till Monday morning, four more deaths were reported from dengue in 24 hours, raising the fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh to 251 this year.
During the period, 2,694 more patients were hospitalised with the viral fever, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Of the new patients, 1,168 were admitted to hospitals in Dhaka and the rest outside of it.
A total of 9,386 dengue patients, including 5,011 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country. So far, the DGHS has recorded 51,832 dengue cases and 42,195 recoveries this year.
