2019 dengue outbreak in Bangladesh

Disease outbreak in Bangladesh
2019 dengue outbreak in Bangladesh
Bangladesh centered on the map
DiseaseDengue fever
Virus strainDengue virus
First outbreakBangladesh
DatesApril 2019 – January 2020
Confirmed cases101,354[1] (in 2019)
241[1] (in 2020 and ongoing)
Deaths
179[1]

The 2019 dengue outbreak in Bangladesh is a nationwide occurrence of dengue fever in Bangladesh that began primarily in April 2019 and is still ongoing. According to Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 14 people have died and 19,513 people have been affected as of 1 August 2019,[2] majority of whom are children.[3] Although other sources are reporting the death toll has already passed 50.[2] On 1 August 2019, DGHS confirmed the outbreak affecting all districts of the country.[4] Additionally, it reported 1,712 newly infected patients in the preceding 24 hours which is also the largest number of infected people on record in a single day. According to official source, roughly 71 more people are being infected in dengue fever every hour.[4] Dhaka is the worst-hit city in the country and the districts in Dhaka Division are among the most affected regions.[3] Experts feared that the situation would deteriorate as a lot of people traveled from major cities to rural areas to celebrate Eid al-Adha holidays in August.[5] The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) expects the outbreak to continue till September 2019.[6]

The Communicable Disease Control (CDC) unit of DGHS warned about the outbreak in March 2019. In January they carried out a survey in Dhaka city where they found both larva and adult Aedes mosquitoes in different parts of the city. Based on outcome of the survey, they alerted both city corporations about the possibility of an outbreak in upcoming months. As said by the CDC director Dr. Sanya Tahmina, they also started training the doctors and nurses from February considering the possibility of a future outbreak.[7]

In August 2019, Bangladesh Governments withdraws all tariffs on dengue test kits imports.[8]

History

Dengue fever was first observed in Bangladesh in 2000, claimed 93 deaths in that year. After 3 years the deaths have gradually decreased to almost zero. However it struck again in 2018, killed 26 and affected 10,148 people.[9][10][11] The previous highest of affected people prior to 2018 was 6,232 in 2002.[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c ১১ মাস পর ডেঙ্গুহীন হাসপাতাল. Bdnews24.com (in Bengali). Dhaka. 2020-02-28. Retrieved 2020-02-28.
  2. ^ a b ডেঙ্গু: নতুন আক্রান্ত ১৭১২ জন. Bdnews24.com (in Bengali). Dhaka. 2019-08-01. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  3. ^ a b Dayaram, Sareena; Pokharel, Sugam (2019-07-30). "Bangladesh hit by worst dengue outbreak on record". CNN. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
  4. ^ a b Azeem, Masud (2019-08-01). ৬৪ জেলায়ই ডেঙ্গু, ঘণ্টায় ভর্তি ৭১ জন. Banglanews24.com (in Bengali). Dhaka. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  5. ^ ডেঙ্গু জ্বর: ঈদে বাড়ি যাবে লক্ষ মানুষ, স্বাস্থ্য ঝুঁকির আশঙ্কা কতটা?. BBC Bangla (in Bengali). London: BBC. 2019-08-02. Retrieved 2019-08-03.
  6. ^ সেপ্টেম্বর পর্যন্ত বাড়তে পারে ডেঙ্গুর প্রকোপ. Banglanews24.com (in Bengali). Dhaka. 2019-07-31. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  7. ^ Khayer, Abul (2019-07-30). ডেঙ্গু নিয়ে আগাম বার্তা আমলে নেয়নি কর্তৃপক্ষ. The Daily Ittefaq (in Bengali). Dhaka. Archived from the original on 2019-08-02. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
  8. ^ "Govt withdraws all tariffs on dengue test kits imports". Barta24. 2019-08-05. Retrieved 2019-08-19.
  9. ^ হাসপাতালে ভর্তি ডেঙ্গু রোগী ১০ হাজার ছাড়াল. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Dhaka. 2019-07-28. Archived from the original on 2019-07-30. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
  10. ^ ডেঙ্গু ৬৩ জেলায়, আক্রান্ত ১৫ হাজারের বেশি. Bdnews24.com (in Bengali). Dhaka. 2019-07-30. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
  11. ^ a b Alam, Helemul (2019-07-25). "Dengue takes alarming turn". The Daily Star. Dhaka. Retrieved 2019-07-30.