The density of Aedes mosquitoes is increasing. Compared to last year, the number of dengue cases is also on the rise in 2024. Experts warn that the condition of patients this year may become more severe.
They emphasize that without swift and effective action, the infection rate could surpass previous years.
Alarmingly, dengue is now spreading beyond Dhaka to other regions, making it imperative for municipalities, in addition to city corporations, to become proactive.
Entomologist and researcher Professor Kabirul Bashar of Jahangirnagar University stated that mosquito density this year is higher than the same period last year.
On April 6 alone, 52 cases were reported, while the number was significantly lower in the same timeframe in 2023. His team’s research, which is based on temperature, humidity, and rainfall, indicates that the density of mosquitoes has increased.
Consequently, more people will be infected by Aedes mosquitoes unless immediate measures are taken.
He also pointed out that unlike city corporations, municipalities lack structured mosquito control programs, and the Ministry of Local Government must step up.
He further stressed the need to replace the insecticides currently used by city corporations. These chemicals must be tested in laboratories before application, and even post-application samples from the field should be tested.
Without testing, there's no way to ensure the quality of each batch supplied.
Data from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) show that 843 dengue patients were hospitalized in the first three months of 2023, while the number rose to 1,705 during the same period in 2024.
So far this year, 1,997 people have been infected—62.2% of them male and 37.8% female.
In the last 24 hours alone, 20 new dengue patients were admitted to hospitals across the country.
Of them, 10 were from outside Barisal City Corporation, 4 from outside Chattogram City Corporation, 4 from areas outside Dhaka’s city corporations, and 1 each from Dhaka North and South city corporations.
In 2023, a record-breaking 321,179 people were diagnosed with dengue, and 1,705 deaths were reported.
From January to December 2024, a total of 101,214 people were infected, and 575 died. So far this year, dengue has claimed 14 lives.
Dengue first appeared in Bangladesh in 2000, with 93 reported deaths. Over the next few years, the death toll dropped nearly to zero.
However, in 2018, the disease re-emerged, causing 26 deaths and infecting 10,148 people. The situation escalated dramatically in 2023, with the highest number of infections and deaths in 24 years.
Since there is no specific treatment for dengue fever, prevention remains the best strategy. Previously, outbreaks were confined to the monsoon season, but with increasing rainfall throughout the year, dengue now poses a risk year-round.
Dr. Mushtaq Hossain, advisor to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), told The Daily Ittefaq, “There’s no reason to expect a reduction in mosquito breeding since control efforts are minimal. Additionally, the system for decentralized hospital treatment of dengue patients has been discontinued”.
Hossain continued, “The previously prepared operation plan has been suspended, and the current management is even more disorganized. Whether fatalities increase this year depends on the dengue virus serotype. If DEN-2 is dominant, deaths may remain low, but if the outbreak is driven by DEN-3 or DEN-4, both infection and death rates will likely rise”.
Regarding the issue, Dr. Nishat Parveen, Chief Health Officer of Dhaka South City Corporation, said, “Our regular dengue control programs are ongoing. For now, we will continue using the previous insecticide. If it becomes ineffective, we’ll consider alternatives.”
When contacted, Brig. Gen. Imrul Kayes, Chief Health Officer of Dhaka North City Corporation, declined to comment and referred the matter to the public relations officer for an official statement.
