50,689 cases, 215 deaths reported nationwide as of Oct 6
\n Dhaka
\nBangladesh\u2019s dengue outbreak is worsening rapidly with infections and deaths climbing sharply across the country, health experts have said, warning the disease could spiral if urgent and coordinated mosquito control efforts are not launched.
\nAccording to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 50,689 dengue cases and 215 deaths have been reported nationwide this year as of October 6.
\nProfessor Kabirul Bashar, an entomologist at Jahangirnagar University, said the outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease \u2014 already severe in September \u2014 could turn \u201calarming\u201d this month due to climate change and erratic rainfall, as well as extended holidays and weak local government action that disrupted anti-mosquito drives.
\n\u201cIf we fail to act now, the situation could spiral out of control,\u201d Bashar said.
\nHe said climate change has extended the breeding season for mosquitoes, while delays in cleaning and fogging drives have worsened the problem. Once confined mostly to cities, dengue is now spreading to smaller towns and rural areas, raising fears that it could become endemic nationwide.
\nWith hospitals under growing strain and infections still rising, health officials fear the crisis will deepen in the coming weeks.
\nThe crisis is being compounded by a rise in cases of chikungunya, also a mosquito-borne disease. Although chikungunya is rarely fatal, it often leaves both children and adults suffering from severe joint pain and lingering weakness.
\nBangladesh\u2019s worst year on record for dengue was 2023, when the disease killed 1,705 people and infected more than 321,000. Experts warn that the country could face another devastating cycle if strong preventive measures are not taken.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
50,689 cases, 215 deaths reported nationwide as of Oct 6 Dhaka Bangladesh\u2019s dengue outbreak is worsening rapidly with infections and deaths climbing sharply across the country, health experts have said, warning the disease could spiral if urgent and coordinated mosquito control efforts are not launched. According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 50,689 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":352410,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-507318","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n