Already proven the worst-ever month in the history of dengue in the country, the crisis is showing no sign of letting up in August.
The month has so far seen more deaths from the mosquito-borne disease than the total recorded last year.
The grim figures come as nine more deaths – five of them in Dhaka alone – were reported from dengue in 24 hours till Saturday morning, raising the number of fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh to 537 this year.
During the period, 1,960 more patients were hospitalized with the viral fever, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Of the new patients, 833 were admitted to hospitals in Dhaka and the rest outside the capital--indicating a worsening situation across the country, said the DGHS.
A total of 8,232 dengue patients, including 3,846 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
So far, the DGHS has recorded 112,184 dengue cases and 103,411 recoveries this year.
After the dengue situation took a serious turn last month and continued in August too, the World Health Organization (WHO) on August 11 suggested swift action to contain the outbreak.
“The higher incidence of dengue is taking place in the context of an unusual episodic amount of rainfall, combined with high temperatures and high humidity, which have resulted in an increased mosquito population throughout Bangladesh,” the WHO said.
The government has not decided to declare a public health emergency so far, and the outbreak may linger on till November.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque on August 23 said the effect of the dengue is greater in Bangladesh than in neighbouring countries.
Urging all to behave responsibly, the minister said the deaths and number of dengue patients would not decrease if mosquitoes are not brought under control.
Harrowing figures
Bangladesh saw 281 deaths in 2021 and the previous highest on record was 164 in 2019, when the country registered the second most cases (101,354).
Shockingly, 286 deaths and 60,352 cases have been registered this month as yet. It translates into 10 deaths and 2,321 cases on average daily in the last 26 days.
The cases recorded this month makeup 53% of the annual caseload of 112,184 so far.
In July alone, 43,854 cases and 204 deaths were reported.
Situating easing in Dhaka
A hotspot for the outbreak, the capital accounted for most deaths and cases last month and also in the first two weeks of August.
But there has been a downward trend in daily fatalities and caseload for the last few days.
According to hospital authorities, the pressure of dengue patients has decreased slightly in healthcare facilities in Dhaka city.
This means the dengue situation is in decreasing trend in the capital while the number of dengue cases is increasing outside Dhaka city.
"On an average, 600 dengue patients were getting admission to Mugda Medical College Hospital every day since the beginning of July . . . huge pressure from dengue patients for admission continued till mid-August," Director of Mugda Medical College and Hospital Dr Md Niatuzzaman said.
"Almost 50% pressure from dengue disease has reduced in Mugda Medical College Hospital since mid-August," he said, adding, nearly 800 people were coming to Mugda Medical College Hospital for performing dengue tests.
Since the beginning of July this year, dengue disease has been increasing alarmingly and this increasing trend continued till the second week of August, the Mugda hospital chief said adding, "We have expanded treatment facilities including a dengue dedicated unit to cope with an increased number of dengue patients.”
The two city corporations of Dhaka have been conducting anti-mosquito drives and calling for the city dwellers to help them fight the ongoing mosquito menace.
The World Bank will provide Bangladesh with $100 million to control the mosquito-borne disease dengue.
