More than half of the patients, who died from dengue this year, passed away within 24 hours of being admitted to hospital, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
So far, 181 deaths from the mosquito-borne disease have been reported in 2025.
The statistic was revealed at a press briefing held at the DGHS headquarters in Dhaka on Monday afternoon.
DGHS Director General Prof Dr Abu Jafar stated, “An analysis of the death data shows that many of the patients, who died from dengue, succumbed within the first 24 hours of hospital admission.”
He emphasised that delayed hospital visits are a major contributing factor to the high mortality rate. “Patients often arrive at hospitals late and in critical condition, leaving little room for effective treatment. This underscores the urgent need for early medical attention and greater public awareness,” he said.
Abu Jafar advised that individuals should seek medical consultation as soon as dengue symptoms appear. “If needed, patients should be admitted to hospitals early, this can significantly reduce the risk of death,” he added.
The DGHS chief also warned that dengue infections have seen a recent spike, which is consistent with seasonal patterns. Citing last year’s data, he noted that the highest number of dengue cases and deaths occurred in September.
“In 2024, 8 people died in June, 14 in July, 30 in August, and 87 in September. Patient admissions followed a similar pattern, with 798 in June, 2,669 in July, 6,521 in August, and 1,897 in September. This clearly indicates that September saw the worst outbreak,” he said.
Abu Jafar called for public cooperation in combating the outbreak, saying, “No matter how many measures we take, if the public is not aware and engaged, it will be extremely difficult to control a disease like dengue.”
Addressing journalists, DGHS chief Jafar appealed for support in raising awareness “If dengue is not detected early and treatment doesn’t start on time, the risk of death increases significantly. We appreciate your past support and hope you will continue to stand with us in informing the public.”
He also clarified recent confusion about reported death tolls. “Media reports said 12 people died in 24 hours. In reality, 9 of those deaths occurred on Thursday, but due to the Friday public holiday, the numbers weren’t released on time, which led to some confusion. We acknowledge this lapse in communication.”
The DGHS assured that all health facilities are equipped with adequate NS1 test kits to diagnose dengue, and that relevant officials overseeing infectious disease control and hospital management will provide further updates.
Meanwhile, two dengue deaths were reported in country in the last 24 hours till Monday morning, bringing the total death toll from this disease to 181 this year.
Among the fatalities, one death was reported in Barishal Division, and another was in Mymensingh Division (Out of city corporations).
During the period, 678 people have been admitted to the hospitals across the country.
