3 more dengue deaths reported as cases cross 25,000

Dengue prevalence in the country is steadily rising, with 753 more patients hospitalized in the last 24 hours. This brings the total number of hospitalized dengue patients this year to 25,601.

According to data from the Health Emergency Operation Center and Control Room of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), three more deaths were reported due to dengue in the past 24 hours. Among the deceased, one death each was reported in Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Khulna.

With these new fatalities, the total death toll from dengue this year has risen to 74. Among those who died, 58.1 percent were women.

Women account for 38.3 percent of the total infected cases. The highest number of dengue cases and deaths has been recorded in Dhaka, followed by higher numbers in the Khulna, Barishal, Mymensingh, and Chattogram divisions. Recently, dengue infections and deaths have been on the rise in the Khulna division, while the mortality rate relative to patient numbers is also increasing in Mymensingh.

Public health expert Mohammad Iqbal noted that due to increased mosquito breeding during the monsoon season, the risk of dengue infection is typically higher from July to September. If the monsoon stretches, the dengue outbreak may persist into October and November, a trend observed in recent years as well.

Meanwhile, Dr. F. M. Siddiqui, Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh Medical University, expressed concern during a seminar organized at the university on Monday that the dengue outbreak could intensify further in September, October, and December. He added that necessary preparations have been made to provide medical care to dengue patients in order to cope with the potential situation.