Four more dengue deaths take annual toll to 335

Four more people have died of dengue in Bangladesh over the past 24 hours, while 1,181 patients were hospitalised, taking this year’s death toll to 335 and the cumulative number of infections to 108,440, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) reported on Friday.

The DGHS report, released on October 16, underscores a steep escalation in fatalities in recent months. September recorded the highest monthly toll, with 148 deaths, while 90 people died in the first 15 days of October alone. By contrast, August, July and June registered 43, 36 and 13 deaths respectively, which illustrates how swiftly the outbreak has intensified.

Of the newly hospitalised patients, 66 were admitted in Dhaka North and 125 in Dhaka South, while hospitals elsewhere in Dhaka Division received 219. Outside the capital region, Chattogram recorded 242 admissions, Khulna 140, Barishal 127, Rajshahi 99, Mymensingh 92 and Rangpur 71. Meanwhile, 1,179 patients recovered and were discharged during the same period, bringing this year’s recovery total to 102,210.

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Dengue therefore remains a pressing public health concern as infections and deaths continue to mount. Nevertheless, the toll remains well below that of 2023, Bangladesh’s deadliest outbreak, when 1,705 people died and 321,179 patients were hospitalised. Health experts have urged the authorities to intensify mosquito-control campaigns and to promote greater public awareness.