Bangladesh: Dengue fever case rates at all-time high

Event

The Bangladesh Directorate General of Health Services reported the total number of dengue fever cases had reached 6694 as of Thursday, October 11, the highest level in the country's history. Dengue is endemic in Bangladesh, with recent confirmed cases in Chittagong, Dhaka, and Khulna; as many as 17 people have died due to the outbreak. Further spread of the outbreak is to be expected in the near-term.

Context

There is a year-round risk of dengue transmission throughout Bangladesh, with peak transmission occurring between the months of June to September.

Dengue fever is transmitted via the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Symptoms of classic dengue fever include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, nausea, and rash. Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) is a potentially deadly complication that is characterized by high fever, the enlargement of the liver, and hemorrhaging. No specific treatment or vaccine is currently available. The disease is mostly found in urban and semi-urban areas. Be aware that aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen) should be avoided as these drugs may worsen bleeding issues associated with the diseases. Patients may be given doses of acetaminophen (paracetamol).

Advice

Individuals in the abovementioned areas are advised to take measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites (e.g. by wearing loose, covering clothing, using insect repellent, and sleeping in a screened-in or in an air-conditioned room) and to eliminate possible mosquito breeding grounds.