Bangladesh is currently grappling with its most severe dengue outbreak on record, with nearly 1,000 fatalities reported in recent weeks. This dire situation is exacerbated by exceptionally wet monsoons, providing conducive breeding grounds for the mosquitoes that transmit the dengue virus in stagnant water, BBC reports.
Authorities have struggled to contain the rapid spread of the disease, leading to a critical overload of hospitals. In severe cases, dengue can cause internal bleeding, often proving fatal. Symptoms include headaches, nausea, joint and muscle pain. Typically endemic in tropical regions, dengue outbreaks are common in urban areas with inadequate sanitation, facilitating the proliferation of virus-carrying mosquitoes.
Previously, dengue was a seasonal concern in Bangladesh. However, the increasing frequency of outbreaks can be attributed to climate change-induced hotter and wetter monsoons since the first recorded outbreak in 2000. This latest surge in infections has caught the nation off guard, fueled by a more virulent strain of the virus. Doctors have observed that the condition of dengue patients deteriorates much more rapidly compared to previous years.
Over the past two months, up to 20 dengue-related deaths have been reported daily, surpassing the total number of deaths recorded over the past 22 years. Bangladesh has initiated public awareness campaigns to combat mosquito breeding sites. However, experts like Dr. Mushtaq Hussain, a public health specialist, emphasize the need for more effective and sustained measures, as there appears to be a perception that dengue is a temporary ailment that will resolve on its own.
Dengue infections have now spread across all 64 districts of Bangladesh, as confirmed by the World Health Organization. Hospitals in the capital city of Dhaka have been inundated with dengue patients seeking treatment, pushing many facilities beyond their capacity. Additionally, there is a shortage of intravenous fluids, a crucial component of dengue treatment, as dehydration is a common complication in dengue cases.
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