September 23, 2025
DHAKA – Eighty-one percent of dengue patients who died this year were admitted to hospitals only after running a fever for three or more days, health authorities have reported, highlighting delayed hospitalisation as the leading cause of fatalities so far.
Around 74 percent of the patients died within 48 hours of admission, while 50 percent succumbed to Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS). Around 43 percent of the deceased had comorbidities, DGHS data show.
Early testing and timely hospitalisation are therefore crucial, health officials said, as the viral disease has seen a sharp rise recently.
The Directorate General of Health Services shared these observations and recommendations at a press conference held at its headquarters in the capital’s Mohakhali yesterday, after reviewing the deaths of 114 dengue patients this year.
“If the disease cannot be diagnosed in time or treatment cannot be started early, suffering and deaths increase. Public awareness is imperative here,” said DGHS Director General Prof Md Abu Jafor.
“Whatever steps we take will not be fruitful if we cannot make people aware of them,” he said, seeking journalists’ cooperation in this regard.
The country has seen a sharp year-on-year surge in dengue, with cases up 81 percent and deaths 43 percent, raising concerns over the worsening outbreak this year.
Two more people died and 678 more were hospitalised in the 24 hours till 8:00am yesterday, taking the total death toll to 181 and caseload to 42,509.
Prof Halimur Rashid, of the DGHS Communicable Disease Control Programme, said most deaths were among patients aged 20 to 30 (19 cases), followed by those in the 0–10 and 40–50 age groups, with 16 deaths reported in each.
Of them, 53 percent were male while the rest were female.
According to a DGHS official, who preferred anonymity, those aged 20–30 make up the highest share of deaths as they are more active outdoors and less cautious during the early stages of fever.
The DGHS collected the addresses of 111 dengue patients who died. Of them, Dhaka recorded the highest number with 17 deaths, followed by Barguna with 12 and Narayanganj with eight.
Dhaka Medical College Hospital saw the highest in-patient deaths with 33, followed by Kurmitola General Hospital with 14 and Rajshahi Medical College Hospital with 12, said Prof Halimur.
Meanwhile, 66 patients died within 24 hours of hospital admission, 18 died within 48 hours, five within 72 hours and 25 after 72 hours, he added.
Forty-seven people were admitted to hospital with a fever persisting for three to six days, 25 were admitted with fever running for six to 10 days, and another 16 were admitted after nine days of fever.
Only 21 patients were admitted in the recommended time — one to three days of fever, he said.
The average hospital stay was around 2.5 days.
Among 90 patients whose preconditions were available, 39 had comorbidities, the professor added.
At least 56 patients died from DSS, while 36 died with Expanded Dengue Syndrome (EDS).
A DGHS official, preferring anonymity, said DSS is a severe form of dengue haemorrhagic fever, which occurs when excessive plasma leakage from blood vessels causes a critical drop in blood pressure, pulse and urine, leaving patients in critical condition. EDS is another severe form of dengue fever which affects multiple organs.
Prof Halimur said that the dengue fatality rate, which stands at 0.42 percent, is still lower than last year’s 0.57 percent.
Citing 2024’s caseload and deaths, Prof Abu Jafor said it was predicted that the number of cases would increase in September.
Replying to a question, he said the role of the Local Government Division is crucial in controlling mosquitoes and curbing dengue cases. “We’re already in touch with them, but there may be some gaps in coordination.”
To another question, he responded that despite a shortage of health workers, they have been mobilising additional doctors in areas that require them the most, such as Barguna.
Asked whether district and upazila-level hospitals were sufficiently prepared to handle dengue cases, as many patients reportedly come to Dhaka for treatment, he claimed they were.
DGHS Director (Hospital) Abu Hussain Md Moinul Ahsan said they have already issued directives to all government hospitals to set up separate wards and medical teams dedicated to handling dengue cases and ensure better treatment, adding that the hospitals are already equipped with adequate test kits and fluids for dengue patients.
Responding to a question, he said, “We regularly update the dengue treatment protocol and train doctors and nurses accordingly.”
Moinul added that they have been investigating the death of a dengue patient in a private hospital in Chattogram despite a long hospital stay, which was unusual.
Two additional director generals of DGHS, Prof Khair Ahmed Choudhury and Prof Sheikh Sayidul Haque, were present at the briefing.