DHAKA, Oct 19 (NNN-BSS) – A total of 900 people were diagnosed with dengue fever in Bangladesh, in the last 24 hours, the highest number in a single day, so far this year, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said.
According to figures reported by the DGHS, under the Ministry of Health, 528 people were diagnosed with dengue in Dhaka alone, yesterday.
With the fresh infections reported as of 8:00 a.m. local time yesterday, the number of dengue cases has surged to 26,938 in Bangladesh, so far this year, the DGHS said.
A total of 23,612 dengue patients returned home after receiving treatment from various hospitals across the country, from Jan 1 to Oct 18 (yesterday), this year.
This month, 10,846 dengue cases were recorded, after 9,911 people were infected with the mosquito-borne disease last month, according to the DGHS, which also confirmed 99 dengue deaths, so far, this year.
While 44 deaths were reported so far this month, there were 34 deaths last month, 11 in Aug, nine in July, and one in June, the DGHS said.
The country, with a population of about 170 million, is especially vulnerable to the virus because of insufficient biosecurity and deficient disease surveillance.
In severe cases, dengue can cause joint pain, nausea, vomiting, rashes, breathing problems, hemorrhaging and organ failure.
The Bangladeshi government has asked state agencies for more coordinated efforts, to rein in the outbreak of the disease, which is transmitted by several species of mosquitos with the genus Aedes.– NNN-BSS
