Dengue in Bangladesh

Atia Sharmin Bonna; Shahed Rafi Pavel; Tajnuva Mehjabin; Mohammad Ali

doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2023.06.020

Dengue in Bangladesh

Int J Infect Dis. 2023 Jun 29:S1201-9712(23)00644-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2023.06.020. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Atia Sharmin Bonna¹, Shahed Rafi Pavel², Tajnuva Mehjabin³, Mohammad Ali⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health, North South University.
² Department of Public Health, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences, Mirpur, Dhaka, 1216.
³ Hasna Hena Pain, Physiotherapy and Public Health Research Center, Uttara, Dhaka, 1230, Bangladesh.
⁴ Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Uttara Adhunik Medical College and Hospital, Uttara Model Town, Dhaka, 1230, Bangladesh; Department of Physiotherapy, International Institute of Health Sciences, Mirpur, Dhaka, 1216, Bangladesh; Hasna Hena Pain, Physiotherapy and Public Health Research Center, Uttara, Dhaka, 1230, Bangladesh. Electronic address: mohammad.ali@latrobe.edu.au.

PMID: 37393040
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2023.06.020

Abstract

Dengue is one of the prominent public health concerns in tropical and subtropical regions globally. The dengue epidemic was first observed in the 1780s, mainly in Asia, Africa, and America; however, this virus was found in Bangladesh in 1964. Rapid and unplanned urbanization, global warming, and prolonged rainy season promoted dengue outbreaks in recent years in Bangladesh. Additionally, household hazards contribute to producing an increased number of Aedes mosquitoes. The presence of four subtypes of dengue viruses (DENV) intensified the dengue outbreak and fatalities, especially since the reemergence of dengue DENV 4 caused more death in 2022. Dhaka city and Rohingya refugee camps witnessed the highest prevalence of dengue patients and fatalities. Furthermore, the cocreation of the dengue outbreak and COVID-19 pandemic-related hazards overwhelmed the health system in Bangladesh. The measures previously taken by the Bangladesh government and City Corporation authorities proved inadequate to face the surge of dengue patients during the pandemic. The government of Bangladesh should stress the proper management of a high volume of dengue patients and raise public concern to fight mosquito proliferation in hot spots such as Dhaka city and Rohingya refugee camps.

Keywords: Aedes; Bangladesh; dengue; global warming; public health; vector.