In Bangladesh, the local government reported that over 300 individuals have died from dengue fever and around 63,700 have been infected this year. Hospitals are struggling to manage the surge in cases.
The dengue disease outbreak marks the most fatal of this mosquito-borne illness since governmental monitoring began in 2000. The nation is encouraging citizens to use mosquito nets and eliminate mosquito larvae. Majority of the fatalities were in Dhaka, the densely populated capital of Bangladesh where hospitals are grappling in accommodating the surge of patients.
Rise of Dengue Fever Cases Linked to Climate Change
Raman Velayudhan, head of the World Health Organization's program for neglected tropical diseases, said during a webinar that the global risk of dengue is due to climate change, as warmer, wetter conditions create ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes, particularly in densely populated regions.
Velayudhan emphasized the need for climate-driven impact mitigation on a country-wide scale during a recent webinar. Anticipating more outbreaks in Bangladesh and Asia post-monsoon, he noted that 2023 is expected to be another challenging year after the record-breaking 2019 dengue cases of 5.2 million across 129 countries.
The Washington Post reported that the United Nations health agency first raised an alarm in January, likened the rapid spread of dengue to a pandemic-level threat. Worldwide, dengue cases continue to surge. Peru declared a health emergency following its worst-ever outbreak. The virus can lead to severe organ failure and even death, with a heightened risk of secondary infection.
Bangladesh is deeply affected, witnessing almost 2,500 new admissions for dengue-related symptoms within 24 hours. Hospitals are racing to accommodate patients, with the Health Ministry mandating increased bed capacity and launching campaigns to promote protective measures like mosquito net usage and elimination of mosquito breeding sites.
Despite these efforts, experts caution that the worst of the outbreak may still lie ahead. The Aedes mosquito, responsible for transmitting dengue and Zika, undergoes a breeding cycle during the wet season before migrating to urban areas during the subsequent dry phase. Bangladesh's monsoon season typically spans from June to October.
Mushtaq Hossain, senior adviser to Bangladesh's Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control, and Research, expressed concern over the nation's readiness for an extended dengue crisis. He projected a potential rise in dengue cases until November, even after the monsoon season, emphasizing an ongoing risk throughout the year and the inadequacy of current preparedness.
Bangladesh's Concerns on Dengue Vaccine
Despite Bangladesh grappling with a severe dengue outbreak, the country has not yet introduced dengue vaccines into its national immunization plan, in contrast to the recent approval of Takeda's Qdenga in other nations.
According to Pharmaceutical Technology, the cautious approach stems from complex decision-making processes for adding vaccines to the Expanded Immunization Program (EPI) and safety concerns raised by the previous dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia.
Takeda's Qdenga, with global approvals and lower pricing in emerging markets, could prompt Bangladesh to reconsider its stance. This issue extends to other low-income nations and could benefit from support from organizations like GAVI and regional bodies.
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