Dhaka, June 22 (V7N) – Bangladesh continues to witness a sharp rise in cases of both dengue fever and COVID-19, with 356 new infections and three related deaths reported in the 24-hour period ending at 8:00 AM on Saturday. The alarming increase includes 352 dengue hospitalizations—marking the highest single-day count this year.
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) confirmed the figures in separate press releases issued on Saturday. Among the three deaths, one woman died from dengue, while two others succumbed to COVID-19. Four new coronavirus cases were also identified.
With the addition of 352 new dengue patients, the total number of hospitalizations in June now stands at 3,084. So far this month, eight people have died of the mosquito-borne disease. Health authorities highlighted that the Barisal Division has emerged as the latest hotspot, particularly the Barguna district. Of the newly hospitalized dengue cases, 167 were from Barisal, with 63 patients admitted to Barguna Sadar Hospital alone. The hospital currently has 221 dengue patients under treatment.
According to DGHS, the woman who died from dengue was 25 years old and had been undergoing treatment at the Trauma Centre in Cumilla. She was a resident of Naluya village in Barura upazila. Her death brings the nationwide dengue death toll for 2024 to 31.
The press statement further detailed that as of now, 882 patients are admitted to various hospitals across the country due to dengue. Of these, 229 are being treated in hospitals within Dhaka, while 653 are admitted to hospitals outside the capital.
The Health Directorate has been documenting dengue-related hospitalizations and deaths since 2000. The worst year on record remains 2023, when 321,179 people were hospitalized and 1,705 lost their lives to dengue—the highest in the country’s history.
Public health experts caution that official data may significantly underrepresent the true scope of the dengue outbreak. Many infected individuals do not seek hospital care, and not all dengue-related deaths are formally reported to government health departments.
The simultaneous rise in both dengue and COVID-19 cases presents a serious challenge for Bangladesh’s healthcare system, particularly as the monsoon season exacerbates mosquito breeding conditions. Authorities are urging citizens to take preventive measures and seek timely medical attention if symptoms appear.
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