Dengue death toll in Bangladesh rises to 316

Mosquito-borne dengue fever has claimed more than 300 lives and infected over 100,000 people across Bangladesh in less than 10 months this year.

According to the latest record from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), dengue prevalence has reached a worrying level this year, with 103,396 cases and 316 deaths recorded as of Oct. 13.

Dengue deaths this year included 71 in October, 148 in September, 43 in August, 36 in July and 13 in June.

The country recorded 9 more deaths and 1,954 more dengue infections in the 24 hours till 8:00 a.m. local time on Tuesday, DGHS data showed.

From Oct. 1 to 13, 23,776 new dengue cases were recorded, after 43,774 people were reported to be infected with the mosquito-borne disease last month, according to the DGHS.

Dengue fever, typically a monsoon-season illness in Bangladesh, is now spreading beyond its usual June-September period. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday directed the authorities concerned to conduct public awareness campaigns using loudspeakers in neighborhoods to prevent dengue.

xinhua