The dengue outbreak continues to escalate across Bangladesh, defying seasonal expectations as the post-monsoon month of November witnesses a sharp rise in cases.
According to data from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 10 individuals succumbed to the mosquito-borne disease within the last 24 hours, though entomologists remain hopeful of a potential decrease with the onset of winter.
Entomologist Kabirul Bashar from Jahangirnagar University noted this anomaly, highlighting that although dengue typically peaks during the rainy season, the current outbreak shows no immediate signs of abatement.
During a visit to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital on Sunday, it was observed that over a hundred patients suffering from dengue were undergoing treatment.
In the first three days of November alone, Suhrawardy Hospital admitted 41 new dengue patients, although no fatalities were reported there during this period.
This year, the hospital has admitted a total of 1,258 dengue patients, of whom 1,136 have recovered, while two succumbed to the illness. Currently, 120 patients remain under hospital care.
Meanwhile, city authorities have implemented various measures to curb the dengue outbreak. Dhaka North City Corporation Chief Executive Officer (Additional Secretary) Mir Khairul Alam said that regular activities, including fogging, larva eradication, and awareness programmes, are ongoing.
“Since monsoon has passed, mosquito populations should gradually decline with increased sunlight, naturally reducing dengue cases and fatalities,” he explained.
Dr Fazle Shamsul Kabir, chief health officer of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), emphasised that anti-dengue efforts began as early as January, with increased public awareness campaigns in partnership with students from local schools and universities.
“We have involved students in spreading awareness, conducted public announcements, and organised rallies. We are also conducting combing operations in areas with higher patient counts. Our cleaning initiatives have covered all schools, colleges, universities, and police stations in Dhaka South.”
Dr Kabir further noted inaccuracies in the DGHS's reporting, stating that data from key medical institutions, such as Dhaka Medical College, Salimullah Medical College, Mugda Hospital, and Holy Family Medical College Hospital, are misleadingly attributed to DSCC.
"Of the 10 deaths reported by DGHS yesterday, only one was a DSCC resident, while the other deaths reflect patients from outside Dhaka South.”
Kabir highlighted similar discrepancies in the data for the year, with DGHS attributing over 100 dengue deaths to DSCC, although Kabir’s team’s analysis identified only 32 deaths among residents of Dhaka South.
Entomologist Kabirul Bashar recommended that city corporations should now focus on identifying dengue hotspots, eliminate mosquitoes in affected households, and remove stagnant water to prevent further spread.
Bashar stated, “Dengue prevalence will likely persist throughout November before gradually subsiding, but special attention should be paid to destroying Aedes larvae.”
As of now, DGHS reports that 63,165 dengue patients have been hospitalised since January, with 310 fatalities recorded.
Last year, a staggering 321,179 individuals were hospitalised due to dengue, resulting in 1,705 deaths.
