Staff Reporter :
The death toll from dengue fever in Bangladesh has exceeded 500 this year, as the country continues to grapple with one of its worst dengue outbreaks in history.
In the past 24 hours alone, seven people succumbed to the mosquito-borne disease, and 629 new cases were reported. This brings the total number of confirmed cases in 2024 to 93,685, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Among the seven recent fatalities, one was reported in Barisal, two in Dhaka South City Corporation, two in Dhaka North City Corporation, and two in Khulna division.
A breakdown of new hospital admissions shows the highest numbers in Dhaka division (excluding city areas) with 133 cases, followed by Dhaka North (113 cases) and Dhaka South (111 cases). Other divisions, such as Khulna, Chittagong, and Barisal, also reported significant numbers of new cases.
Since January 1, 2024, over 63% of dengue patients have been male, while nearly 37% have been female. Notably, among the 504 fatalities, women account for 51.4%, slightly exceeding the male mortality rate of 48.6%.
This outbreak follows the deadly dengue surge of 2023, which recorded over 321,000 cases and 1,705 deaths, the highest in Bangladesh’s history. Experts have attributed the recurring outbreaks to urbanization, climate change, and ineffective mosquito control measures.
Authorities continue to urge the public to take preventive actions and seek early medical attention to combat the crisis.
