5 more die of dengue, 1,110 hospitalised in 24hrs 

The dengue situation in Bangladesh is gradually becoming increasingly alarming, with the number of infections and hospital admissions rising every day.

Dengue cases more than doubled in August compared with July, while deaths also reached their highest monthly level of the year, according to an analysis of the Directorate General of Health Services' (DGHS) regular dengue bulletins.

The data show that 9,206 people were infected with dengue in July. The number rose to 20,536 in August�"an increase of 11,330 cases within a month. From January to May this year, monthly dengue infections remained below 1,000. However, the number rose to 2,907 in June before nearly tripling to 9,206 in July. In August, infections increased further to 20,536.

A total of 107 people have died from dengue so far this year, with most of the deaths occurring over the past three months. August recorded the highest number of deaths, with 43 fatalities, followed by 36 in July and 13 in June. 

Two deaths each were reported in January and February, while one person died in May. Meanwhile, 10 people died in the first two days of September alone.

In terms of gender, 62 percent of those infected with dengue this year are men and 38 percent are women. However, the pattern is different among fatalities: women account for 55 percent of dengue deaths, compared with 45 percent for men.

According to DGHS data on Wednesday, five more people died from dengue during the same period, taking the death toll from the mosquito-borne disease across the country in the past 24 hours. 

Of the five deaths, four were men and one was a woman. Among them two each of Dhaka North City Corporation and Mymensingh division while one other from Barishal division. 

The DGHS also said that 1,110 new patients have been admitted to various hospitals across the country in the same time. Khulna division has the highest number of infected people, with 190, followed by Chittagong division with 175.

Officials and health experts have expressed concern that the dengue situation could worsen further in September as infections continue to rise.

Experts say mosquito control remains the only effective way to control dengue. The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) is therefore taking steps to identify dengue hotspots across the country. Once the hotspots are identified, authorities plan to recommend destroying mosquito larvae with the direct participation of government agencies at all levels and the public.