Rising dengue threat must be addressed

We are deeply concerned about the worsening dengue situation with the cases and deaths rising steadily amid an extended monsoon. On September 21, the DGHS recorded the highest single-day dengue death toll, with 12 fatalities—five in Barisal division. At least 181 deaths and 42,509 infections were reported as of 8am September 22 this year. Although experts had earlier warned that the dengue situation would worsen around this time due to changing weather patterns, their calls for adequate preparation, including by adopting proactive measures, were clearly ignored. Instead, the authorities have continued with the same outdated approach to tackle the disease. The consequences are visible.

Reportedly, delayed hospitalisation has mainly led to the majority of deaths this year. DGHS data shows that around 74 percent of the deaths occurred within 48 hours of hospital admission, meaning that patients were already in critical condition when they were hospitalised. According to healthcare professionals, when a dengue patient arrives at hospital in the final stage, even if proper measures are taken, they are usually not effective. This also indicates that there has been a serious lack of awareness among people about when to seek hospital admission.

While in Dhaka we see some form of awareness among people, with the two city corporations taking at least some initiatives to control mosquitoes as part of their dengue response, such efforts are almost absent in other parts of the country, especially rural areas. This lack of awareness has had severe consequences. Dengue has spread extensively beyond Dhaka since last year, and so far this year, 30,854 people have been infected outside the capital, compared to 10,977 people in Dhaka. Among districts outside the capital, Barguna was worst affected, with 13 deaths reported in it so far. A June survey by IEDCR found Aedes mosquito larvae in 31 percent of homes in Barguna municipality, and a staggering 76 percent in the district's rural areas. Had the authorities acted on these findings, many of those deaths might have been prevented.

Although the number of dengue infections this year has exceeded last year's total, the overall mortality rate remains relatively lower. However, the rising number of infections and critically ill patients in recent weeks signals a potentially worsening crisis in the coming days. Therefore, to prevent further loss of life, it is essential to raise awareness about early testing and ensure timely hospitalisation. Special attention needs to be given to containing dengue outside Dhaka and equipping district-level hospitals to manage severe cases effectively. Only a coordinated national effort can help prevent further deaths from dengue.