Dhaka, Nov 4 (IANS): Bangladesh has recorded 1,147 new dengue cases and five deaths in the past 24 hours, the Ministry of Health reported on Monday.
According to official data, the country has so far registered 2,960 cases in November, taking the total number of infections this year to 72,822, while the death toll has climbed to 288.
Dengue, traditionally considered a monsoon-season disease in Bangladesh, is now spreading beyond its usual June–September period, Xinhua news agency reported.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines dengue as a viral infection transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Aedes aegypti and, to a lesser extent, Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. The disease is most common in tropical and sub-tropical climates, particularly in densely populated urban and semi-urban areas.
Although there is no specific treatment for dengue, early diagnosis, prompt recognition of warning signs, and proper clinical management are key to keeping the fatality rate below 1 per cent.
Dengue was first reported in Bangladesh during the 1960s—then known as East Pakistan—when it was called “Dacca fever.” Since 2010, outbreaks have typically coincided with the country’s rainy season between May and September, when high temperatures and waterlogging create ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes.
Experts warn that climate change and unusual weather patterns — including excessive rainfall, flooding, and warmer temperatures — are making Bangladesh increasingly vulnerable to dengue and other vector-borne diseases such as malaria and chikungunya.
The disease has become endemic in Bangladesh, with recurring outbreaks posing a major public health challenge. All four known serotypes of the dengue virus have been detected in the country. While DENV-1 and DENV-2 were dominant until 2016, DENV-3 became prevalent after the record 2019 outbreak. This year, DENV-2 has re-emerged as the predominant strain.
