Dengue spreads rapidly in Bangladesh, 12 died, 740 new cases reported in 24 hours

Dengue cases are rising rapidly in Bangladesh, with health officials reporting the highest daily increase in deaths and hospital admissions this year.

According to a report by the British news agency ‘Reuters’, the health department said on Sunday that 12 people died in the past 24 hours, while 740 new patients were admitted to hospitals due to the mosquito-borne disease.

So far this year, dengue has killed at least 179 people and infected about 42,000 people across the country.

A large number of children have started appearing in hospital wards, most of whom are coming with high fever, rashes, and dehydration, with some children also developing serious complications.

Entomologists say that changing weather conditions are making the epidemic more serious.

Kabiral Bashar, a zoology professor at Jahangirnagar University, said that the monsoon is getting longer than usual, which is causing water to accumulate everywhere. These prolonged rains are giving mosquitoes more time and space to breed, which is why the epidemic is intensifying.

Bangladesh’s rapid urbanisation, poor waste management, and stagnant water levels at construction sites have also increased opportunities for mosquito breeding.

With hospitals under pressure and infections continuing to rise, doctors fear that the crisis will deepen in the coming weeks.

Pediatrician ABM Abdullah said that children can quickly become dehydrated and go into shock, which makes them very vulnerable to severe dengue.

He urged parents not to ignore early symptoms such as persistent fever or bleeding gums.

The worst year for Bangladesh was 2023, when dengue killed 1,705 people and infected more than 321,000.

Experts fear that such a deadly cycle will continue if effective preventive measures are not taken.