Over 1,000 people have died from dengue in Bangladesh’s worst outbreak on record, according to official data. Rising temperatures due to the climate crisis are driving the spread of the disease, with more cases now being reported in rural areas as well as densely populated urban centers. Since January, there have been 1,017 deaths and over 208,000 infections from the mosquito-borne disease, including over 100 children. The outbreak began earlier than usual, with cases appearing in April instead of the typical monsoon season between July and September.
Scientists attribute the surge in cases to a prolonged monsoon season, which brought warmer temperatures and irregular heavy rainfall, creating ideal conditions for the Aedes mosquito, the carrier of the dengue virus. This influx of dengue patients has strained the healthcare system in Bangladesh, with hospitals facing a shortage of beds and staff.
The number of fatalities from the outbreak is nearly four times higher than last year, and concerns are growing that the outbreak could continue into the cooler months. Last year, dengue cases peaked in October, with most deaths occurring in November.
Dengue causes flu-like symptoms, including headaches, muscle and joint pains, fever, and in severe cases, internal bleeding and death. There is currently no specific treatment for the disease, which is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito.
Dengue is endemic in more than 100 countries and infects 100 million to 400 million people every year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Historically, outbreaks have mainly occurred in densely populated urban centers, but this year, infections rapidly spread to every district in Bangladesh, including rural areas.
The WHO has been assisting the Bangladeshi government in strengthening surveillance, lab capacity, clinical management, vector control, risk communication, and community engagement during the outbreak. However, public health experts in the country are calling for greater emphasis on prevention measures, including early detection and access to adequate healthcare services, as repeat infections of dengue can be more serious and even deadly.
This outbreak in Bangladesh is not an isolated incident. As the planet continues to experience the effects of climate change, mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever are expected to spread further and have a greater impact on human health. The global number of dengue cases has already increased eight-fold in the past two decades, and outbreaks have been reported in South America, Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa.
The WHO’s alert and response director warns that these outbreaks are a “canary in the coalmine of the climate crisis,” and more countries are experiencing the heavy burden of these diseases. It is crucial for governments and public health organizations to prioritize prevention and control measures to mitigate the impact of these outbreaks.