Dengue Crisis in Bangladesh: Devastating Losses Surpass 1,000 Lives
Over 1,000 lives lost in Bangladesh's deadliest dengue outbreak yet, fueled by climate change, as the virus spreads beyond cities for the first time
Official data reveals that the worst outbreak of dengue in Bangladesh has resulted in over 1,000 deaths, marking it as the deadliest outbreak on record. The climate crisis, leading to increased temperatures, has contributed to the continuous spread of the disease, with cases now being reported outside of densely populated urban areas for the first time. The Bangladesh Directorate General of Health Services has reported that since January, there have been a total of 208,000 infections, causing the loss of 1,017 lives, including over 100 children.
Dengue fever is a prevalent disease in the South Asian country, with infections usually peaking during the monsoon season from July to September. However, this year, there has been an earlier increase in cases, starting in late April. Scientists attribute this to a prolonged monsoon season characterized by higher temperatures and unpredictable, heavy rainfalls. These conditions have created the perfect environment for the breeding of the Aedes mosquito, the carrier of dengue fever.
According to local media reports, the country's healthcare system and hospitals have been overwhelmed by the influx of patients, resulting in a shortage of beds and staff to provide proper care. Bangladesh health authorities have reported that the number of fatalities from the outbreak has increased almost fourfold compared to last year, with 396 deaths in September alone. Additionally, there have been over 79,600 reported cases during that same month.
There is also growing concern about the outbreak spilling into the cooler months. Last year, dengue cases only peaked in October with most deaths recorded in November.
Dengue patients receive treatment at the Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital in Dhaka on October 2.
Munir Uz Zaman/AFP/Getty Images
Dengue, also referred to as breakbone fever, is a viral infection that leads to flu-like symptoms such as severe headaches, muscle and joint aches, fever, and in certain cases, internal bleeding and fatalities. It is transmitted to humans by Aedes mosquitoes that are infected. The disease is prevalent in over 100 countries and the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that annually, 100 million to 400 million individuals contract the infection. There is currently no specific treatment available for dengue.
Previously, outbreaks were typically limited to heavily populated urban areas such as the capital city of Dhaka, which is home to over 20 million individuals. However, this year, the spread of infections has swiftly extended to all districts throughout Bangladesh, including rural regions, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In a recent news briefing, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the UN agency is assisting the Bangladeshi government and authorities in enhancing surveillance, laboratory capabilities, clinical management, vector control, risk communication, and community engagement throughout the outbreak.
But there is a growing demand from public health specialists to prioritize dengue and concentrate on preventative measures, such as early detection and providing sufficient healthcare services – repeated dengue infections can have graver consequences, and in some cases, even result in fatalities.
The image depicts an aedes aegypti mosquito viewed through a microscope at Singapore's National Environmental Agency's mosquito production facility on August 19, 2020. REUTERS' photographer Edgar Su captured the picture on the same day.
The era of mosquitoes: With the global warming phenomenon, these insects are flourishing and spreading diseases.
Such alerts are not confined to Bangladesh alone. As the earth continues to rapidly warm up as a result of fossil fuel emissions, outbreaks will increasingly occur in previously unaffected areas across the world.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that the number of dengue cases worldwide has escalated by eight times over the last two decades. With the deteriorating climate crisis, there will be an anticipated expansion of mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever, resulting in a more profound effect on human health.
This year, South America has been heavily impacted by a severe outbreak of dengue, with Peru facing its worst outbreak on record. In the United States, cases in Florida have caused authorities to issue alerts for several counties. Across Asia, countries such as Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Malaysia are also witnessing a sharp increase in dengue cases. Additionally, outbreaks have been reported in sub-Saharan African countries like Chad. Abdi Mahamud, the Director of the World Health Organization's alert and response team, described these outbreaks as a warning sign of the climate crisis and emphasized that an increasing number of countries are burdened by these diseases.
