Fight dengue and climate change: Otherwise they will kill us
PARVEZ BABUL
Rasheda Akter (28) was a homemaker of a lower middle class family in Bangladesh. She used to live with her husband and two daughters. They rented a house in the capital Dhaka city in June last year 2023. Suddenly, Rasheda got high fever, severe headaches, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands, and rash that appear three to four days after the fever starts.
Due to a low income of her husband, Rasheda could not visit a physician immediately. So at the critical moment she was taken to a government hospital. After three days, unfortunately she died of dengue disease! There are hundreds of women like Rasheda and men of different ages died of dengue last year 2023 and this year 2024 too.
DENGUE SITUATION IN BANGLADESH
As on October 28, 2024, three more people died of dengue while 1,197 new patients have been hospitalized with the Aedes mosquito-borne disease across Bangladesh in the past 24 hours till Monday morning.
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) in Bangladesh has reported that as of 31 December 2023–321,179 hospitalizations and 1,705 deaths due to the Aedes mosquito-borne tropical disease in the 2023 outbreak year.
According to the daily update of Directorate General of Health Services, with the new counts, the number of hospitalized dengue patients has reached 58,108 so far this year, and 280 people died among them.
DGHS said 281 were hospitalized in the Dhaka division, 36 in the Mymensingh division, 140 in the Chattogram division, 136 in the Khulna division, 71 in the Rajshahi division, 26 in the Rangpur division, 82 in the Barishal division, and four in the Sylhet division.
As many as 3,970 patients, including 1,928 in the capital, are currently undergoing treatment for dengue in hospitals across the country.
Iffat Mahmud, Senior Operations Officer and Task Team Leader of World Bank said that the number of dengue cases rises in Bangladesh in the months of rainfall. Weather patterns and climate change are playing role with the rain for increasing dengue cases. She said, “Rainfall between 200mm-800mm, temperatures of 25°C-35°C and humidity of 60%-80% provide ideal conditions for Aedes mosquito breeding.”
The information was shared at a workshop, called: “Dengue Prevention and Control: Information Sharing Session” at a hotel in the capital.
Iffat Mahmud’s presentation highlighted that Aedes mosquitoes primarily breed in freshwater that includes the water saved on Raw and Banana leaves in the villages. The main dengue season typically spans from May to either July or September.
Iffat mentioned that an extended dengue season can start from January, particularly if there is increased rainfall, as seen in 2022. Cases can then rise from April and continue until December.
To ensure the necessary drugs, equipment and manpower to tackle Aedes mosquitoes.
Nonetheless, the record number of deaths due to dengue this year is deeply concerning and distressing. Due to geographical location, Bangladesh faces significant challenges controlling mosquito-borne diseases.
It is crucial to discuss any uncertainties in dengue prevention and control. Experts observed that the infection and death rates in 2023 surpassed all prior records. The World Bank suggests that dengue spreads mainly during rainy seasons. So awareness of the people and active participation to follow the guidelines are vital for mosquito prevention and control. Media have to cover the dengue issues widely so that the people become aware to prevent dengue cases accordingly.
World Bank’s Country Director for Bangladesh Abdoulaye Seck said, “The rate of dengue is rising alarmingly. We need to make awareness of all the people of the country both in urban and rural areas.”
Abdoulaye Seck added that journalists, “I mean the Media have the power to disseminate right information at the right time at the right place. So they should do the same to prevent and control dengue cases too.”
He has given emphasize in involvement of all the people in the fight against dengue, and said that every individual must play a proper role in raising awareness among the people of all levels both in cities and villages.
Climate change and changed weather caused increasing the number of dengue cases. The outbreak of dengue is increasing in the cities and spreading in the villages too. Making awareness is very important among all the people of the country irrespective of urban and village levels. If the people become aware to prevent dengue, it would be easier to reduce the number of patients and to save lives.
STATUS OF DENGUE ACROSS THE GLOBE
Global landmark: 2023 marks the worst year for dengue cases with millions infected and thousands of deaths reported. Different studies show that the world is experiencing the largest dengue outbreak ever. In 2023, the first global landmark of 6.5 million cases and more than 6,800 deaths was reached. South America reported the highest number of dengue cases, 3.9 million. Asia had the highest case fatality ratio, 0.22. Brazil reported the highest number of cases, 3.1 million.
Bangladesh reported the highest number of deaths, 1,705. Bangladesh reported a staggering 321,179 hospitalized dengue cases in 2023, significantly higher than previous years, causing widespread concern.
According to World Health Organization (WHO), in 2023, the world experienced the worst dengue virus (DENV) outbreak on record. The study aimed to identify global regions and continents with high burden of dengue in 2023.
Overall, in 2023 more than 6.5 million cases and over 6,800 deaths attributed to DENV were recorded globally, marking a historic milestone. Two distinct hotspots of DENV circulation emerged: South America and South and Southeast Asian regions. South America reported the highest number of cases (3,924,992), and 1,946 deaths, with a CFR of 0.05. In Asia, 1,622,405 cases and 3,637 deaths were reported, with a CFR of 0.22.
The increased cases and mortality highlight the urgent need for a comprehensive global approach aimed at DENV infection control, including vaccine development, vector control, public health initiatives, and improved clinical management.
