In Bangladesh, Dengue Fever Death Toll Approaches 800 in One Year

15 September 2023

The death toll from dengue fever in Bangladesh has surged to 778 this year, according to data from the country's Directorate General of Health Services. In a 24-hour period from Wednesday evening to Thursday evening, 11 people died from dengue fever, and 2,600 new patients were hospitalized.

 

As of Thursday evening, the total number of dengue cases reported since January had reached 157,000, setting an all-time record for the country. This surpasses the previous record from 2019 when there were 101,000 confirmed cases, a milestone reached on August 20.

 

 

This year's dengue outbreak in Bangladesh has also seen a record number of deaths, with the previous highest recorded in 2020 at 281 deaths. By early August, the death toll from dengue fever had already surpassed 300. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the dengue fever outbreak in Bangladesh as the "most serious" ever recorded.

 

Dengue fever is common in countries with tropical and subtropical climates and is transmitted by female mosquitoes. WHO has noted that dengue has become a rapidly spreading infection worldwide in recent years, with an estimated 100-400 million cases annually. Most cases are typically mild or asymptomatic, but the virus can lead to acute respiratory illness, which can potentially become life-threatening.

 

 

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Photo: K M Asas/World Bank/Creative Commons 2.0

Based on materials from TASS