Dengue has claimed 11 more lives in Bangladesh in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll this year to 400. Of these, 155 people have died in the first 27 days of October alone, while 2,071 new patients have been hospitalised during the same period.
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) disclosed the figures in its daily report on Tuesday.
According to the report, 899 of the newly hospitalised patients were from Dhaka division, the highest among the country's eight divisions. Khulna recorded 250 admissions, followed by Chittagong with 241, Rajshahi with 229, Barisal with 217, Rangpur with 112, Mymensingh with 97 and Sylhet with 26.
October records highest monthly death toll
DGHS data show that dengue fatalities remained relatively low during the first five months of the year. Two people died in each of January and February, while no deaths were recorded in March or April. One person died in May.
The death toll rose to 13 in June, 36 in July and 43 in August before surging to 148 in September. In the first 27 days of October, the disease claimed another 155 lives.
September and October together accounted for 303 deaths, more than 75% of the year's total. By comparison, 97 people died of dengue in the first eight months of the year, highlighting a sharp rise in fatalities in recent months.
October's death toll has already surpassed September's total, with five days still remaining in the month.
Highest single-day death toll this year
Tuesday's report also recorded the highest number of dengue deaths in a single day this year, with 11 fatalities reported in the preceding 24 hours.
The previous highest daily toll was 10, recorded on October 6 and October 15.
According to the DGHS, a total of 128,237 dengue patients were hospitalised across the country between January 1 and 8:00am on October 27. Of them, 121,422 have recovered and been discharged, while 6,415 remain under treatment at hospitals nationwide.
The sharp rise in fatalities in September and October, coupled with the continued admission of thousands of patients, underscores the growing severity of the dengue outbreak across Bangladesh.
Experts urge early treatment as dengue cases surge
Medicine specialist Dr ABM Abdullah has stressed the need to destroy Aedes mosquito breeding sites and eliminate adult mosquitoes to curb dengue transmission.
He said the authorities should conduct regular cleanliness drives, while individuals must also take precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites.
Some dengue patients are experiencing rapid deterioration, with some developing severe complications and going into shock within just one or two days, he said, urging people not to ignore a fever and to seek medical advice promptly.
Dr Abdullah advised extra caution if children, older people, pregnant women, and patients with cancer or liver disease develop a fever.
He also emphasised the importance of adequate fluid intake for dengue patients. Those experiencing vomiting, difficulty eating or diarrhoea should seek medical attention without delay.
He warned against taking painkillers purchased from pharmacies without consulting a doctor when experiencing a fever.
According to Dr Abdullah, early treatment improves the chances of recovery, while delays in seeking medical care can make severe cases, particularly those involving shock, more difficult to manage. Patients with underlying health conditions face additional risks, he added.
Dr Muhammad Nurul Islam, deputy director of Mugda Medical College Hospital, said people are exposed to different dengue virus variants each year. A second dengue infection could be one possible reason for the rapid deterioration in the condition of some children, he added.
He stressed that people should take dengue symptoms seriously even before the infection is confirmed. Patients should be closely monitored and take medication and undergo necessary tests as advised by a physician, he said.
