Dengue death toll rises to 300 as 3 more die

With three new dengue deaths yesterday, the total number of deaths has risen to 300 this year, depicting a grim picture of how losing lives to the mosquito-borne disease has become a regular scenario over recent years.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services, 1,705 dengue deaths occurred in 2023, marking the highest annual death toll to date. In comparison, there were 281 deaths in 2022 and 179 in 2019.

With the 382 new cases, the total number of dengue cases rose to 62,199 this year.

Experts attribute the high mortality rate this year to factors including late hospitalisation, quick onset of shock syndrome, inaccurate test results, and recurrent dengue infections.

"We are mostly seeing Den-2 (serotype-2) cases this year, similar to last year," said Prof Tahmina Shirin, director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) recently.

Dr Shirin said being infected with Den-2 does not necessarily spell danger.

"However, cross-infections involving different serotypes can lead to severe complications, especially if patients are not hospitalised in time. Delayed hospitalisation is one of the key factors behind worsening patient conditions and higher mortality rates," she added.

She advised that anyone diagnosed with fever should immediately consult a doctor and follow prescribed treatments.

Staying well-hydrated is crucial, she said.

Dr HM Nazmul Ahsan, associate professor at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, told The Daily Star yesterday, "Many patients are going into shock after their fever subsides, which is alarming."

He added that patients with shock syndrome, bleeding, and expanded dengue syndrome are contributing to the rising death toll.

Many people even do not realise that they are in shock, and when they are taken to the hospital, it is already too late, he said.

About the Den-2 dengue virus, he said the cosmopolitan sub-variant of Den-2 is especially dangerous due to its links to bleeding, increased severity, and a higher mortality rate, which is significantly present this year.

Early hospitalisation -- especially for symptoms such as severe stomach pain, difficulty breathing, and bleeding -- is critical to prevent fatal outcomes, he added.

Entomologist Manzur A Chowdhury warned that dengue cases may peak in November but will not drop significantly afterwards, suggesting dengue infections could continue until February.

Prof Kabirul Bashar, entomologist at Jahangirnagar University, said changing patterns of the rainy season is a reason behind the prolonged dengue phase.

There are many factors for this prominent presence of dengue in the late season, which include climate change, lack of proper anti-mosquito drives, and unplanned urbanisation, he said.

GM Saifur Rahman, an entomologist from National University, recommended that the government implement robust surveillance to identify hotspots, enabling coordinated intervention by local authorities, community groups, and schools.