Late hospital admissions and negligence in timely doctor visits are believed to be the reasons why patients aged between 18 and 40 are the worst affected age-group in the ongoing dengue outbreak, experts said.

HM Nazmul Ahsan, associate professor of Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital, said, "It's hard to say for certain why this age group has the highest number of deaths and cases so far this year

"However, we are assuming that the tendency to go to hospital late might be a reason. As people of these ages are relatively physically strong, they tend to delay going to hospital, and eventually put themselves at risk."

According to the data of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 13 dengue patients died while 1,533 others were hospitalised in the 24 hours till yesterday morning.

This was the highest number of single-day deaths so far since the outbreak began.

With the new cases, the total number of deaths rose to 127 while that of  cases rose to 24,000.

The DGHS data shows that 11,984 (highest) of the 24,000 cases and 53 (highest) of 127 deaths are of people aged 18-40. Of the other patients, 1,616 are aged between zero and five; 1,721 between five and 10; 3,823 are from 10-18; 3,779 between 40 and 60; 993 between 60 and 80; and 81 over 80 years.

Seven of the 127 dead were aged between five and 10; 15 were 10-18; 29 were 40-60; 15 were 60-80; and two were 80 or older.

Meanwhile, six children under five have died so far.

Those who come to the hospital after reaching a critical stage are already late for admission, Nazmul added.

"Consulting a doctor early and taking necessary medications are essential if a person is diagnosed with fever. Patients should take enough fluids -- coconut water, saline, home-made fruit juices and sherbets – to stay hydrated while having necessary vitamins and minerals to speed up their recovery process."

Prof Kabirul Bashar, of the zoology department at Jahangirnagar University, said people from the 18-40 age group move around outside a lot due to reasons including work, school, college and more, which could also be a reason for the high rate of their infections.

"Like others, this group too has to be careful about dengue and will have to wear full sleeve dress, socks and shoes, and ensure mosquito nets while sleeping both at day and night."

Entomologist GM Saifur Rahman, of National University, reiterated that people from this age group are generally negligent when it comes to going to the hospital, while also having to move from place to place frequently.

He added that this age group is also vulnerable to multiple infections.

According to experts, the dengue virus has four variants (Den-1 to 4), each of which is further subdivided into distinct genotypes. Den-2, which consists of six genotypes (Asian/American, Asian I, Asian II, Cosmopolitan, American and sylvatic), is frequently associated with severe dengue infections and epidemics.

The risk of death becomes higher if a previous patient of the disease is infected with a different variant. However, early detection and immediate hospitalisation can help lower the risks significantly, they said.

Meanwhile, nine mobile courts of Dhaka South City Corporation yesterday conducted anti-mosquito drives at 314 buildings and fined 14 people Tk 1.18 lakh as they found Aedes larvae in their structures.

Dhaka North City Corporation as well fined 15 people Tk 5.62 lakh after separate drives.