In Bangladesh, the death toll from the most severe dengue outbreak in the country's history has surpassed 1,000 this year, marking the highest recorded incidence of the mosquito-borne disease. The rise in dengue cases is attributed to the increasing impact of climate change.
Dengue is a tropical disease characterized by high fevers, headaches, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, and, in severe cases, bleeding that can be fatal.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued warnings regarding the rapid spread of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases, including chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika, due to climate change.
According to data from Bangladesh's Directorate General of Health Services, as of Sunday night, more than 1,006 individuals have succumbed to the disease, among the two lakh confirmed cases. Notably, this year's death toll has already exceeded the cumulative total of all previous years since 2000. The situation is described as a "massive health event" by Be-Nazir Ahmed, a former director of the agency.
This year's outbreak is attributed to irregular rainfall and elevated temperatures during the annual monsoon season, creating ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes. Similar dengue outbreaks have been reported in other tropical and subtropical countries this year. The Aedes mosquito, responsible for transmitting dengue, thrives at temperatures conducive to virus multiplication, and global climate change is believed to be contributing to these favorable conditions.
Dengue was first documented in Bangladesh in the 1960s, with the first outbreak of dengue hemorrhagic fever, a severe and sometimes deadly form of the disease, occurring in 2000. The virus-causing dengue is now endemic in Bangladesh, leading to worsening outbreaks over the past two decades. Most cases are reported during the monsoon season, which typically spans from July to September and brings heavy rainfall, occasional floods, and landslides.
However, in recent years, cases of dengue have also been observed during the winter months, and individuals with repeat infections face a greater risk of complications. Patients often seek medical attention when their illness is already advanced, making treatment more challenging.
Hospitals in Dhaka, Bangladesh's capital, are filled with dengue patients during these outbreaks, with many individuals requiring hospitalization and supportive care.
The mosquitoes that transmit dengue have developed resistance to insecticides in some parts of Asia, further complicating control efforts. Research has explored dengue vaccines and the use of bacteria to sterilize mosquitoes, but neither method has yet achieved significant success in eradicating the disease.
In September, the WHO expressed concerns about the severe pressure on Bangladesh's health system caused by the dengue outbreak. The agency's officials stressed that such outbreaks are indicative of the climate crisis and highlighted the contribution of factors like climate change and the El Niño warming weather pattern to severe dengue outbreaks in various regions, including Bangladesh and South America. Outbreaks have also been reported in sub-Saharan African countries such as Chad.
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