The UN World Health Organization (WHO) reported a significant increase in dengue fever cases in Bangladesh on Friday, urging for actions to limit the mosquito vector population and minimize individual exposure, such as using mosquito repellents and wearing long-sleeved clothing.
According to the UN health agency, the outbreak, which has been quickly spreading since late June, has resulted in 69,483 confirmed cases and 327 linked deaths between January 1 and August 7, with a case fatality rate of 0.47 percent. The incidents were recorded from each of the country’s 64 districts.
In July alone, 43,854 cases and 204 deaths were reported, accounting for 63% of all cases and 62% of all deaths. The significant increase in numbers is unusual in the previous five years, highlighting the seriousness of the ongoing pandemic.
“The higher incidence of dengue is taking place in the context of an unusual episodic amount of rainfall, combined with high temperatures and high humidity, which have resulted in an increased mosquito population throughout Bangladesh,”
Most dengue patients experience minimal or no symptoms and recover in two weeks. Rarely, dengue can be fatal due to its severity. Symptoms often appear four to ten days after infection and continue for two to seven days, if any at all.
High temperature (40°C or 104°F), excruciating headache, eye pain, aches in the muscles and joints, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands, and rash are possible symptoms.
People with these severe symptoms should seek medical care right away.
Dengue, a viral infection that transmits through mosquito bites, has long plagued tropical and sub-tropical regions. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes serve as the primary vectors for the disease. An infected mosquito can transmit the virus for the rest of its life.
While there is currently no specific treatment for dengue, early detection and appropriate healthcare for case management can significantly reduce mortality.
The treatment of pain symptoms is the main priority, according to WHO. To manage pain, acetaminophen (paracetamol) is frequently used. Ibuprofen and aspirin are examples of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications that have to be avoided since they can raise the risk of bleeding.
With additional control rooms in every district and medical college hospital, Bangladesh’s health authorities have set up a dedicated dengue control room to gather information and coordinate at the national level.
In the metropolis, Dhaka, six hospitals tasked with managing COVID-19 patients have been repurposed for dengue case care, and medical college hospitals have developed specialized dengue wards and dengue corners.
Authorities are also distributing intravenous saline and other supportive drugs to healthcare facilities, training healthcare professionals, and boosting up laboratory testing, risk communication, community participation, and surveillance.
Due to the growing number of cases, high case fatality rate, and wide geographic dispersion of infections, WHO rated the national dengue risk as “High”.
In order to manage mosquito populations and lessen human-vector contact, the UN health agency recommended integrated vector management (IVM), which included eliminating potential breeding grounds, cutting down on vector populations, and limiting individual exposure.
Specific actions involve vector control strategies for larvae and adult mosquitoes and source reduction, especially of water storage practices, and include covering, draining and cleaning household water storage containers on a weekly basis, using insecticide-treated nets and indoor space spraying (fogging).
At an individual level, protective measures include topical application of repellents to exposed skin or treatment of clothing, and the use of long sleeves shirts and pants; use of household insecticide aerosol products or mosquito coils, as well as window and door screens, which can reduce the probability of mosquitoes entering the house.
