It has been reported that Bangladesh is currently facing a health crisis with dengue cases increasing each passing day. In a grim sign of a worsening health crisis, the death toll from the dengue epidemic in Bangladesh has risen to 466.
According to sources, 13 people died of viral fever in the last 24 hours. Hospitals across the country are struggling to manage patient numbers, with 1,983 new admissions recorded in the same period.
While it’s not the first time Bangladesh is facing the dengue epidemic, still this year’s outbreak intensity and scale have surprised both health officials and the public. In the capital city of Dhaka, 738 new dengue cases were reported within a day. However, what’s even more concerning is the rate in which the cases are increasing outside the capital. According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the majority of the new cases emerged from regions beyond Dhaka.
So far 7,895 dengue patients have been treated in hospitals across Bangladesh. With 3,691 people in care, the capital remains a significant hotspot. In total, 97,860 cases of Dengue have been reported this year by the Directorate General for Health Services with a silver lining being that 89,499 individuals recovered from the disease.
The UN World Health Organization (WHO) has also expressed its concern over the soaring dengue cases in the country, urging for a swift and comprehensive action. A combination of climatic and environmental factors can be attributed to the cause of this unprecedented outbreak. According to WHO, the unusually high amount of rainfall coupled with increasing temperatures and rising humidity has created a favourable habitat for Aedes mosquitoes that can multiply by an exponential rate.
In order to reduce the mosquito population and help citizens protect themselves, measures like fumigation drives, publicity campaigns or advice on health should be stepped up by Local Authorities. International aid, in terms of medical expertise, supplies and funds, may also be essential to cope with the situation due to its scale and urgency.
