Daijiworld Media Network – Dhaka
Dhaka, Sep 14: As Bangladesh grapples with an unprecedented dengue outbreak, as many as 52 people have died from the vector-borne infection in the first 13 days of September alone. The surge marks the highest monthly fatalities recorded so far this year, raising serious concerns over the escalating public health crisis, local media reported.
According to figures released by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the country’s total dengue death toll has reached 149, with 51,837 patients hospitalized as of Sunday.
Health experts have attributed the steep rise in fatalities to delayed hospitalization, improper treatment protocols, and heightened vulnerability among high-risk groups. Many patients are reportedly seeking medical attention and testing only after their condition turns critical, according to leading Bangladeshi daily The Daily Star.
HM Nazmul Ahsan, Associate Professor at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital in Dhaka, noted that the spike in deaths is a direct consequence of the rapid nationwide surge in infections. He categorized the contributing factors into viral intensity, patient-related vulnerabilities, and treatment-related complications.
Prominent public health expert Mushtuq Husain emphasized the urgent need to strengthen dengue care management through a synchronized three-tier healthcare system spanning primary, secondary, and tertiary care levels.
Government Warns of Further Deterioration
On Sunday, Bangladesh’s State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock, Sultan Salauddin Tuku, warned that the dengue situation in Dhaka and other districts could deteriorate further in the coming months. "The risk of dengue may increase further in the coming months, so everyone needs to become aware from now," Tuku was quoted as saying by news agency UNB.
According to a report in Bangladeshi daily Prothom Alo, the mosquito-borne disease has now spread across all 64 districts of the country, with hundreds of patients being admitted to hospitals daily and fatalities reported almost every day.
Health authorities and entomologists had previously cautioned that infections could peak during late September and early October. Speaking at an event at the Dhaka Reporters Unity on September 9, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare MA Muhit confirmed that infections had begun trending upward, with the peak expected in the coming weeks across at least 15 high-risk districts.
Despite recurring annual outbreaks, media reports highlight that a lack of administrative coordination and proactive vector-control measures continues to undermine prevention efforts across the country.