Bangladesh is grappling with its most severe outbreak of dengue, with reported cases surpassing 300,000, according to media reports on Monday. The Directorate General of Health Services data revealed a total of 301,255 dengue infections and 1,549 deaths in the country this year. The bdnews24.com news portal highlighted that on Sunday alone, 1,291 new cases were reported, with a total of 4,949 patients, including 1,127 in Dhaka, currently undergoing treatment in various hospitals across the nation. Experts attribute the outbreak to a prolonged monsoon, rising temperatures, and insufficient measures to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the primary carrier of the dengue virus.
The situation worsened as September recorded a record 79,598 dengue cases and 396 deaths, following 71,976 cases and 342 deaths in August. October reported 67,769 cases and 359 deaths. In the first 19 days of November, there were 30,080 new dengue cases and 201 deaths. A government-funded pre-monsoon survey in Dhaka identified a concerning surge in the Aedes aegypti mosquito, contributing to the most significant dengue outbreak in the past five years. Despite the high numbers, experts criticize the authorities for inadequate measures, emphasizing the importance of vector management and reducing breeding sources to control dengue.
Former chief entomologist at DHGS, Mohammad Khalilur Rahman, noted that dengue control involves various strategies, but he expressed dissatisfaction with the authorities’ efforts, stating that more effective measures are required. Last year’s data indicated 62,382 reported cases and 281 deaths, making it the previous highest since record-keeping began for dengue hospitalizations in the 1960s, as reported by The Daily Star newspaper.
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