A recent outbreak of dengue fever in Bangladesh has killed at least 176 people. According to the Directorate General of Health Services, many children have caught dengue fever and are at a greater risk of developing shock syndrome. Although dengue cases occur every year in Bangladesh, the death rate for the disease is the highest it has been in the last five years.
Despite many people urging to declare the situation a public health emergency and an epidemic, Director General Dr. Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam and Health Minister Zahid Maleque stated it doesn’t fully meet the criteria yet. Meanwhile, hospitals are struggling to keep up with the demand for tests and in many cases citizens have to waiting for hours just to get tested.
There are significant worries the situation will continue to worsen due to climate change and the current El Niño weather cycle, both of which produce conditions conducive to the spread of the virus. In addition, many are placing blame on authorities for not taking enough preventative measures to control the Aedes mosquito population, which spreads dengue fever.
By Leanne Auyeung