Bangladesh reports six dengue deaths in highest single-day death toll this year

Bangladesh has recorded the highest single-day death toll from dengue this year, with six people succumbing to the disease in the past 24 hours.

This brings the total number of deaths from the Aedes mosquito-borne virus to 167 this year.

According to the health directorate’s Thursday bulletin, the dead included five women and one man, aged between 16 and 63.

The deaths occurred at different hospitals, including DNCC Covid-19 Hospital, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Mugda Medical College Hospital, Chattogram Medical College Hospital, and Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barishal.

The month of September has seen a notable spike, with 45 deaths reported until Thursday, surpassing the previous high of 41 fatalities in July.

Bangladesh also witnessed deaths from dengue in other months, including 10 in January, three in February, seven in April, three in May, 19 in June, and 39 in August. No deaths were reported in March.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services, 647 new dengue patients were hospitalised in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of hospitalisations this year to 40,461.

July saw the highest number of hospital admissions with 10,684 patients, while other months saw varying figures, including 1,161 in January, 374 in February, and 5,951 in June.

As of now, 2,042 dengue patients are receiving treatment across hospitals in Bangladesh. Of these, 717 are in hospitals in Dhaka, while 1,325 are in hospitals outside the capital.

Since 2000, the Health Directorate has been tracking dengue-related hospitalisations and deaths. The year 2023 has seen the highest hospitalisation rate, with 321,179 people admitted, and a record 1,705 deaths attributed to the disease.