Dengue fever poses a significant public health challenge in Bangladesh. The country has experienced recurring outbreaks, causing widespread concern among authorities and communities in the past. But this time, the country’s experiencing its worst Dengue outbreak, in 2 decades.
Bangladesh Faces Deadly Dengue Crisis
Rohingya Camps Become Dengue Hotspots in Bangladesh.The latest data of the DGHS revealed that 1,283 people were infected with and 26 people died of dengue in the Rohingya camps and surrounding host community in Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilasof Cox’s Bazar from January to June 6,2023 pic.twitter.com/MdIXOTMTAk
— A.S.M.Suza Uddin (@ASMSuzaUddin1) July 19, 2023
A record-deadly outbreak of dengue fever is hitting Bangladesh hard, and hospitals are struggling to accommodate the number of patients. This is due to the rapid spread of the disease in the densely-populated country, reported Hindustan Times.
Official figures report that in 2023, the death toll from dengue fever in Bangladesh reached 293 people, and nearly 61,500 individuals have been infected. As per the report, this makes it the deadliest year since the first recorded epidemic in 2000.
Health officials report that hospitals, particularly in the capital Dhaka, are facing difficulty in finding space for a large number of patients. The patients are reported to have been experiencing high fever, joint pain, and vomiting. All symptoms of dengue fever.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque stated that the government has initiated various measures to control the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. These initiatives include awareness campaigns and efforts to eliminate mosquito larvae after periods of rainfall, reported Hindustan Times.
The report also states that o specific vaccine or drug exists to treat dengue, a common disease in South Asia during the monsoon season. The deadly virus spreads through the ‘Aedes aegypti’ mosquito, which thrives in stagnant water, stated the report.
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What Do Experts Have To Say?
Concerning rise in Dengue cases in #Bangladesh ! Prevention is key to tackle this outbreak. Let’s take action:
🏙️ Raise awareness
🏥 Strengthen healthcare
🌳 Control mosquitoes💪Let’s unite to fight dengue and protect our nation’s health! #DengueOutBreak #PublicHealthMatters pic.twitter.com/lEFYqp27uo
— Mustakim Ahmed Sunny (@MustakimSunny) July 31, 2023
Experts anticipate a rise in cases during August and September 2023. This year’s death toll has already surpassed the previous record of 281 from last year. And the number of infections is just slightly lower than the 62,423 cases reported in 2022, said Hindustan Times in the report.
Proper medical care and early detection can decrease the death rate of dengue sufferers to less than 1%, stated the report. Aedes mosquito breeding started with pre-monsoon rains in April, said Kabirul Bashar, a professor at Jahangirnagar University. This is as per the Hindustan Times report.
Dengue has had a significant history in Bangladesh. The first recorded outbreak of the disease in the country dates back to the year 2000. Since then, the country has faced recurring episodes of dengue.
Over the years, dengue has become a major public health challenge, with numerous outbreaks occurring during the monsoon season. This is when the Aedes mosquito, the primary vector of the virus, thrives in stagnant water, reported Reuters.
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Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease that can cause flu-like symptoms, including high fever, severe headache, joint pain, and rash. It is transmitted to humans primarily through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes.
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