Bangladesh on Sunday reported its highest single-day death toll from dengue this year, with 12 fatalities recorded in the past 24 hours. During the same period, 740 more patients were admitted to hospitals across the country with the mosquito-borne disease, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The DGHS said in a statement from its Health Emergency Operations Centre and Control Room that the figures cover the 24 hours from 8 a.m. on Saturday to 8 a.m. on Sunday (21 September).
Among the new hospital admissions, 237 were reported from Dhaka city, 165 from Barishal division (excluding the city corporation), 147 from the rest of Dhaka division, 77 from Chattogram division, 28 from Rajshahi division, 22 from Mymensingh division, 52 from Khulna division, three from Rangpur division and nine from Sylhet division.
Of the 12 people who died in the past 24 hours, six were women and six were men. Five were from Barishal division, one from Chattogram division, three from Dhaka South City Corporation area, two from Dhaka North City Corporation area, and one from Mymensingh division.
With the latest deaths, the total number of dengue fatalities this year has risen to 179. Since January, 41,831 people have been hospitalised with dengue, of whom 39,631 have already been discharged, the DGHS added.
Public health experts say the figures point to a worsening dengue outbreak as cases continue to spread beyond Dhaka to other divisions.
