Dengue cases rising: Dhaka south accounts for most cases, deaths

Dhaka is grappling with a rise in dengue cases, with the southern part of the city emerging as the hardest-hit area.

As of September, the majority of patients and deaths from the mosquito-borne disease have been concentrated in Dhaka south, which accounts for over 25% of all reported cases this year.

Health authorities report more than half of the deaths have occurred in the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) area, and despite a lower overall number of cases compared to last year, experts warn that the situation remains critical, especially with record hospital admissions in recent days.

Maruf, 18, a student of Tejgaon College, died from dengue at 1:30am on September 6 while on life support at a private hospital at Panthapath, Dhaka. His family is devastated by his untimely death.

This year, 97 people have died from dengue so far, and 16,285 patients have been admitted to hospitals. In comparison, by the same date last year (September 9), 716 people had died, and 145,335 had been infected with dengue. Current figures show a significant drop in cases compared to last year.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 321,179 dengue cases were reported last year, the highest on record. However, most cases occurred between May and December. 

This year, over 1,000 cases were reported as early as January, which was unprecedented. 

For comparison, there were 32 patients in January 2021 and 126 in January 2022.

DGHS data shows that 14 people died from dengue in January, three in February and five in March this year. 

Last year, six deaths occurred in January, three in February and none in March. 

There were no dengue deaths between January and May of 2021 and 2022.

Analysis reveals that cases began rising in July last year. In July 2023, 43,854 patients were admitted, followed by 71,976 in August and 21,527 in September. Comparatively, this year has seen fewer cases.

25% of patients in Dhaka south

Analysis shows that most of this year’s dengue patients are in the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) area. Around 25% of all cases reported since January 1 have been in Dhaka south, which has also accounted for over half of all dengue deaths. Of the total 97 deaths, 58 occurred in DSCC, with 4,201 confirmed cases.

In the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) area, there have been 2,767 patients and eight deaths.

Record number of patients in a single day

In the 24 hours to Monday morning, 615 new dengue patients were admitted to hospitals across the country, with one reported death during this period.

The Health Emergency Operation Centre and Control Room of the DGHS says this was the first time this year that so many patients were admitted in a single day. 

Most admissions were in the DNCC, with 175 patients, followed by 137 in the DSCC.

Patients outside city corporations

According to the DGHS, the highest number of dengue cases outside Dhaka has been reported in Chittagong division. So far 45 patients have been admitted to hospitals in the Chittagong City Corporation area, while 4,300 patients have been admitted outside the city.

In addition, 1,694 patients have been admitted outside the Barishal City Corporation area, 1,151 outside Khulna, 312 outside Mymensingh, 178 outside Rajshahi and 50 outside Rangpur city corporations.

Reducing mosquito population

Public health expert Dr Mushtuq Husain said improved patient management could reduce deaths, but reducing the mosquito population took time. “Last year, dengue spread to remote areas, where most patients were infected for the first time.”

He added that if the situation outside Dhaka was not controlled, people in remote areas could get infected again, and new patients could emerge.

Mushtuq emphasized the need for regular neighbourhood clean-up drives, saying local ward councillors or representatives must be involved. 

Institutional systems involving the public were necessary to control mosquitoes, as city corporations lacked sufficient manpower, he added.

Dr Kabirul Bashar of Jahangirnagar University’s zoology department said preemptive measures were essential for controlling dengue, warning that cases would continue to rise in the coming days and urged city corporations to intensify efforts on hotspot management, larva management and source management, even if additional manpower was needed.

Meanwhile, a senior DGHS official, on condition of anonymity, said the absence of local representatives had slowed down mosquito control efforts, though hospitals were prepared with dedicated dengue units.