Dengue out of control in Bangladesh: 1,251 cases in the last 24 hours

The unofficial toll is 114 dead. The greatest number of infections is located in the capital. Since the beginning of the year, over 64,000 people have contracted the virus transmitted by a particular mosquito species.

Dhaka (AsiaNews / Agencies) - At least 1,251 patients have been hospitalized in Bangladesh over the last 24 hours due to dengue fever. According to the Directorate-General for Health Services, (DGHS) there are at least 47 victims, the worst ever recorded epidemic in the country. According to unofficial sources, the toll in human lives is even higher: 114 deaths.

The contagion exploded several weeks ago, especially in the capital area. The last death occurred this morning at Rangpur Medical College Hospital (Rmch). The victim was called Mahtab Uddin and was 24 years old. The Dr. Asaduzzaman, a spokesman for the hospital and assistant to the Department of Medicine, said the man was admitted to the M Abdur Rahim Medical College in Dinajpur on August 18, after being diagnosed with the infection. He was later transferred to the intensive care unit of RMCH, when his condition deteriorated.

Dengue fever is a tropical infectious disease caused by the virus of the same name. It is transmitted by a particular mosquito species that proliferates particularly in stagnant and unhealthy urban areas. The symptoms of the virus are fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, in addition to the characteristic rash similar to that of measles. Deadly cases are those in which the virus develops a hemorrhagic fever that can develop into circulatory shock and death.

According to the World Health Organization, at least 50 million people worldwide are infected with the virus every year. There is no effective vaccination; the only way to prevent fever is to eliminate mosquitoes and their habitat, to limit exposure to the risk of transmission.

In Bangladesh the virus is transmitted by the "Aedes" mosquito also known as the "yellow fever mosquito", among the most lethal species in the world. According to the Department of Health, 5,562 people are currently hospitalized in public and private hospitals; of these, most are located in the Dhaka area (3.081). From January 1 to August 26, more than 64 thousand people contracted the disease: of these, just over 59 thousand were discharged from hospitals after treatments.