Dengue turning deadly, child mortality rising

Zubair, a child battling dengue, lies in bed with a persistent fever and severe stomach pain. He is receiving care at the specialized dengue ward in the Bangladesh Children’s Hospital and Institute in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, where many other children share his struggle.

Among them is 12-year-old Wasim, in bed number 33. His mother, Seema Khatun, spoke in distress: "We live in Kalyanpur, Dhaka. My son’s fever hit 105 degrees and stayed like that for three days. He’s been hospitalised for 13 days now. We are poor, and I’ve already spent Tk 50,000. I don’t know what to do."

According to the Directorate General of Health Services, the number of dengue cases nationwide has surged to 36,590, with 186 reported deaths so far. 

In just the last 24 hours, four more people died, and 1,225 were admitted to hospitals, marking the highest single-day hospitalisation this year. 

Child mortality due to dengue is particularly alarming. The Bangladesh Children’s Hospital reported that while the overall number of child dengue cases is lower this year compared to previous years, the death rate has significantly increased. Out of 296 children treated for dengue, five have died, resulting in a mortality rate of 1.69%, the second highest in six years.

In 2019, 1,450 children were infected, with 18 deaths (1.24%). The mortality rates continued to fluctuate in subsequent years: 1.04% in 2020, 1.54% in 2021, 1.76% in 2022, and 1.13% in 2023. 

Despite the lower number of cases this year, the increased mortality is raising concern.

Dr Kingkar Ghosh, an epidemiologist at Bangladesh Children’s Hospital, said, "The number of affected children is lower this year, but the death rate is higher. We’ve treated 296 children in the last three months, and five have died. Currently, 37 children are receiving care in our dengue ward."

Dengue outbreaks in Bangladesh started in 2000, and the number of cases and deaths has risen every year. 

September 2024 saw the highest spike, with 80 deaths—nearly 50% of this year's total fatalities. With October expected to be even worse, health officials urge extreme caution.