Bangladesh currently has the highest dengue fatality rate in the world. While the country ranks seventh in terms of total infections, it tops the global list for dengue-related deaths.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), as of Friday, 44,692 people had been infected with dengue this year, with 188 deaths recorded—a fatality rate of 0.42 percent.

The World Health Organization (WHO) published data on dengue cases across 175 countries up to August this year. Bangladesh was shown to have the highest fatality rate at 0.52 percent, followed by Indonesia at 0.41 percent.

Experts note that Bangladesh records only hospital-admitted cases, leaving out the vast number of patients who receive treatment at home. As a result, the case fatality rate appears disproportionately high.

Globally, WHO reported that up to August there were 1,770,008 confirmed dengue cases and 3,005 deaths. Brazil recorded the highest number of infections and deaths, followed by Colombia, India, Thailand, Ecuador and Bangladesh. Brazil reported 1,338,468 infections and 1,635 deaths, while Indonesia reported 110,828 infections and 457 deaths. Bangladesh ranked third in deaths with 164 fatalities from 31,476 infections.

WHO conference highlights Bangladesh’s situation

At a recent WHO conference on dengue held in India, Professor Kabirul Bashar, entomologist and zoology professor at Jahangirnagar University, noted that Bangladesh’s fatality rate was singled out for discussion.

“Many countries reported fatality rates of zero point zero percent, yet ours stood at 0.52 percent,” he told Kaler Kantho. “Because we only have hospital data—and not all hospitals report—the death rate looks unusually high. This situation does not exist anywhere else in the world.”

WHO data also shows that between 2022 and 2024, Bangladesh consistently recorded the world’s highest dengue fatality rate at 0.52 percent.

Public health expert Dr Mushtaq Hossain said that while gaps in data play a role, the country’s dengue management remains inadequate.

“There is a huge disparity in healthcare facilities between Dhaka and outside areas,” he explained. “We have failed to engage the public in mosquito control and have not prioritised dengue sufficiently in primary healthcare. These shortcomings continue.”

Over half of deaths occur on first day of hospitalisation

DGHS Director General Professor Dr Abu Jafar recently revealed that 114 dengue-related deaths were analysed, with 57.89 percent of patients dying on the very first day of admission. The majority of these deaths were caused by dengue shock syndrome and delays in reaching hospitals.

Professor Dr Md Halimur Rashid, Line Director of the Communicable Disease Control (CDC) unit, added that most deaths occurred in hospitals within Dhaka’s two city corporation areas, with patients aged between 20 and 30 most affected.

He noted that of 90 patients who died, 39 had pre-existing long-term illnesses. Data on 113 patients showed that 56 died from dengue shock syndrome, 36 from expanded dengue syndrome, nine from both conditions, and another nine from cardiac shock linked to dengue.

Of the 114 deaths, 66 occurred within 24 hours of hospitalisation, 18 within 24 to 48 hours, five within 48 to 72 hours, and 25 after 72 hours.

For nearly three years, most dengue cases were caused by serotype-2. However, this year serotype-3 has emerged as an increasing threat, particularly in Dhaka. The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) confirmed the rise of this variant.

Source: Kaler Kantho