in BangladeshiThe Directorate General of Health Services in Dhaka reported 80,074 cases of dengue fever as of 11 August.
As of 30 June 2023, a total of 7,978 cases and 47 deaths have been reported, but cases started to increase rapidly from the end of June and in July alone 43,854 cases and 204 deaths were recorded. The number of cases and deaths is higher compared to similar periods in the past five years, and the peak is unlikely to have been reached.
The World Health Organization issued on August 11 a newsletter on the ongoing dengue epidemic in Bangladesh.
Cases have been reported in all 64 provinces of the country. The hardest hit region is in Dhaka division It is the city of Dhaka which accounts for 52.8% of the cases and 78.9% of the deaths. Other divisions affected are Chattogram Division (13.2% of cases and 9.2% of deaths), Dhaka Division excluding Dhaka City (11.6% of cases and 2.8% of deaths), and Barisal Division (10.5% of cases and 4.3% of deaths). there Sylhet division It has the lowest number of cases (560) and no deaths have been reported so far.
To date, 373 dengue-related deaths have been reported (0.47% case fatality rate), which is higher than in previous years. The overall CFR in women is higher than in men (0.72% vs 0.32%), with men having a CFR four times higher among those ages 21-40 (0.71% vs 0.18%). The older group had a higher CFR than the younger group (1.87% in the over-60 age group vs. 0.74% in the 41-60 age group and 0.34% in the 40-and-under age group).
DENV2 was the dominant serotype circulating in Bangladesh until 2018, then it was replaced by DENV3 as the dominant serotype since 2019. However, DENV2 was identified as the main serotype circulating in the 2023 outbreak, which could lead to dengue infection More severe and hospitalization due to a second infection with a heterogeneous serotype. Of the 66 serotypes in June 2023, DENV2 (51.5%) and DENV3 (43.9%) were identified as the circulating serotypes.
The increased incidence of dengue fever comes on the back of unusually occasional rainfall, along with high temperatures and high humidity, which has led to an increase in the mosquito population across Bangladesh.
WHO does not recommend blanket travel restrictions or trade restrictions with Bangladesh based on the information available for this event.
Recommendations for travelers:
Travelers are advised to protect themselves from mosquito bites. Usual vector control measures should be observed:
- Wearing protective clothing.
- mosquito repellent, containing DEET, on exposed skin;
- a mosquito net impregnated with insecticide for naps and at night;
- People who use sunscreen should apply mosquito repellent 20 minutes after sunscreen.
In order to avoid the spread of dengue virus as much as possible in the metropolitan area, in the face of a sudden onset of fever and joint or muscle pain within 15 days of returning from a trip to a risk area, it is necessary to consult your doctor as soon as possible by reporting your trip.
Sources: Outbreak News Today, World Health Organization
