Dengue cases top 1,025 in 4 days

• Total number of patients 3,683 in 2021 

• 1,058 dengue patients are currently undergoing treatment at different government and private hospitals across the country 

• 2,617 people recovered since January  

The cases of dengue infected patients have been rising at an alarming rate across the country particularly in Dhaka despite all-out awareness campaign by the two mayors of the bifurcated city.  According to the government statistics, in all 1,025 patients were hospitalized with dengue infections in the first four-day span of August, with around 237 cases identified across the country in 24 hours till 8:00am on Wednesday, taking the total number of patients to 3,683 since January, 2021.

Among the patients who were hospitalised on Wednesday, 16 were outside the capital city of Dhaka, according to the Health Emergency Operation Centre and Control Room of the Directorate General of Health Services.

Some 1,058 dengue patients are currently undergoing treatment at different government and private hospitals across the country. Of them, 1,004 are undergoing treatment at 41 public and private hospitals in Dhaka and the rest are at hospitals in other divisions.

A total of 2,617 people had so far recovered from dengue since January, 2021, said the DGHS report. With the spread of the mosquito-borne viral infection amid the increase in Aedes mosquito menace during the monsoon, in July alone, a total of 2, 286 patients were hospitalised across the country, marking a more than 600 percent jump in cases from June when 272 cases were reported.

Almost all the dengue cases, barring about 70, have been found in Dhaka, Bangladesh’s sprawling capital, home to about 17 million people.

The dengue outbreak has put further pressure on Bangladesh’s healthcare exacerbated by a vicious third wave of the coronavirus.

Bangladesh witnessed its worst-ever dengue outbreak in 2019 when it recorded more than 100,000 cases and 179 deaths. The situation was less serious  last year when 1,405 patients were diagnosed across the country, with seven killed according to the DGHS data.

In Bangladesh, a large number of dengue patients this year are being infected with DEN-3, a variant of the dengue virus which can increase mortality risk, according to an expert.

In previous years, Bangladesh witnessed outbreaks of DEN-1 and DEN-2 strands but this year DEN-3 is more prevalent. DEN-3 and DEN-4 strands are considered deadly and cause plasma leakage, respiratory distress and organ impairment in patients. 

A doctor said that this year, the dengue cases are high because of a “wave pattern.” “Dengue cases increase every alternate year. We saw massive dengue cases in 2019, so there was a probability of increasing dengue cases in 2021,” he said.