Bangladesh is undergoing a sharp acute outbreak of dengue, with the country experiencing its worst spurt in years. Till mid-November 2024, the number of deaths has mounted to 407, while more than 78,500 people have been admitted. The outbreak-a result of rising temperatures and an extended monsoon season-has already weighed heavily on the health sector, particularly in cities such as Dhaka.
The health authorities say that currently, 4,173 patients are undergoing treatment-in Dhaka, 1,835 of them alone. Experts point towards the unusual monsoon-like rainfall in October as a contributing factor, while the climate change-induced change in the pattern of weather allows it to become a conducive breeding ground for the mosquitoes that cause dengue fever, Aedes aegypti.
These mosquitoes have been favored for my benefit because the unusual weather has provided the longevity of the traditional monsoons thus making them prolific,” said Dr Kabirul Bashar, a zoology professor at Jahangirnagar University. He had wished to have year-around vector surveillance to check the spread of the disease.
The dense population of the country has worsened the situation as they easily facilitate the fast virus transmission. Though dengue is usually associated with the monsoon months between June and September, the sharp season this time has seen a pandemic well beyond this window.
The healthcare system is mounting in pressure, and hospitals are overflowing with dengue patients. In the opinion of eminent physician Dr. ABM Abdullah, of course, mortality can be as low as less than 1% if early diagnosis and intervention occur.
Bangladesh saw its deadliest year of the current dengue epidemic in 2023, with the death toll at 1,705 and more than 321,000 infections. This is amid calls for intensified efforts to eradicate mosquito breeding grounds, especially stagnant water, as well as heightened public awareness on how to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes.
The outbreak has become very widespread with cases also registered in rural areas where the reach of healthcare facilities is minimal; hence, treatment is delayed, and mortality increases. The health authorities are appealing to citizens to be cautious, avoid mosquito bites by using repellents, sleep under nets, and attend a doctor immediately to reduce the effects of the disease.
