Dengue fatalities cross 450-mark

The dengue death toll in Bangladesh this year surpassed the 450-mark yesterday, making it only the second time in 24 years that fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease have crossed this threshold.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services, 459 dengue patients have died so far this year, with 11 fatalities reported in the last 24 hours until yesterday morning.

The previous record was set in 2023, when 1,705 people lost their lives, while 2022 recorded 281 deaths.

The latest deaths include four in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), five in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), and two in Khulna Division. Meanwhile, 1,079 dengue patients were admitted to hospitals across the country during the same period, bringing the total number of reported cases since January to 86,791, according to DGHS data.

Health experts attribute this year’s high mortality rate to severe complications such as multi-organ failure, shock syndrome, delayed hospitalisation, and comorbidities.

Dr HM Nazmul Ahsan, associate professor at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, said many patients arrive at hospitals with multi-organ failure, triggered by shock syndrome after fever subsides.

“When shock persists beyond four hours, patients typically face liver damage, followed by kidney failure and other organ failures, leading to death in most cases,” he said.

He added that dengue patients with comorbidities like hypertension, diabetes, and chronic lung disease are particularly vulnerable. Those already in end-stage organ failure face an even slimmer chance of survival, as evidenced by recent cases.

Warning Signs Often Overlooked

Nazmul said patients often fail to recognise warning signs, such as severe abdominal pain, breathing difficulties, bleeding, extreme weakness, or significant drops in urination. When they seek medical care, their condition has deteriorated.

Prof Tahmina Shirin, director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research, emphasised the risk of cross-infections from different dengue serotypes, which can cause severe complications if hospitalisation is delayed.

“Anyone with fever should immediately consult a doctor and follow prescribed treatment,” she advised.