Dengue death toll in Bangladesh exceeds 400

(CLO) Bangladesh is grappling with its worst dengue outbreak in years, with more than 400 deaths as high temperatures and a longer monsoon season cause a spike in cases.

According to the latest official figures, at least 407 people died from related complications in 2024, with a total of 78,595 patients hospitalized nationwide.

In the first half of November, 4,173 patients were treated, of which 1,835 were in the capital Dhaka and 2,338 were elsewhere.

A worker sprays disinfectant to kill mosquitoes in Dhaka, Bangladesh, October 14, 2024. Photo: Reuters

“We are seeing monsoon-like rainfall even in October, which is very unusual,” said Kabirul Bashar, professor of zoology at Jahangirnagar University.

He added that changes in weather due to climate change have created favorable conditions for the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the main carrier of the disease. "The changes in the season are creating ideal conditions for mosquitoes to breed."

The high population density in Bangladesh’s cities exacerbates the spread of the disease. Rising temperatures and longer monsoons, both linked to climate change, have led to rapid mosquito breeding, fueling the rapid spread of the virus.

Renowned doctor in the country, ABM Abdullah, said that with early detection and proper treatment, the number of deaths due to dengue could be reduced to less than 1%. "Early diagnosis and prevention are the keys to controlling dengue," he added.

Last year, the number of deaths due to dengue fever in Bangladesh was even higher at 1,705, with more than 321,000 reported infections.

Doctors say delays in treatment, especially among rural residents who have to travel long distances to specialist facilities in Dhaka, are driving up deaths in Bangladesh.

Huy Hoang (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/tu-vong-do-sot-xuat-huyet-o-bangladesh-vuot-qua-400-ca-post321733.html