Dengue deaths hit single-day record

At least nine dengue patients died and 1,571 others were hospitalised in the 24 hours to 8:00am Tuesday, with both deaths and hospitalisations reaching their highest single-day levels this year.

Dengue infections and deaths have been rising at an alarming rate since June after relatively few cases were reported earlier in the year.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) dengue bulletin issued on Tuesday, the latest deaths have taken the country’s dengue death toll this year to 130, while the total number of reported cases has reached 45,475.

Of the nine deaths recorded in the past 24 hours, three were reported in Dhaka South City Corporation, two each in Dhaka North City Corporation and Khulna division, and one each in Barishal and Mymensingh divisions. The deceased were five men and four women.

The number of daily hospitalisations also reached a new yearly high, with 1,571 patients admitted during the period from 8:00am Monday to 8:00am Tuesday.

Earlier, five people each died of dengue on September 1 and August 23. The previous highest number of daily infections was recorded on September 1, when 1,324 cases were reported.

The dengue situation has worsened significantly in recent months. Last year, 102,861 people were infected and 413 died, while in 2024, 101,214 cases and 575 deaths were recorded.

Experts said adequate measures were not being taken to contain the outbreak. They stressed the need for mosquito-control activities at the community level and called for dengue testing facilities to be made available within communities.