54 patients hospitalized in 24 hours

A total of 54 new dengue patients were admitted to different hospitals across the country during the past 24 hours (till 8am Friday).

"As many as 46 dengue patients were hospitalized in Dhaka city and eight patients were admitted to hospital outside Dhaka during the past 24 hours" a press release of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said.

"A total of 17 people died from dengue disease between January 1 and August 19. The first death from dengue was reported on June 21, this year," the daily statement of the DGHS said. With the new cases, the total number of dengue patients this year rose to 4,228 while some 3,813 patients were released from the hospitals".

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne illness that occurs in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Outbreak of the disease is usually seasonal, peaking during and after rainy seasons.

The World Health Organization classifies dengue as one of the top 10 threats to public health.