Helemul Alam

Teenagers and young adults aged 16 to 30 accounted for around 42 percent of all dengue cases reported this year, making them the most affected age group.

While frequent load-shedding has become a concern for Dhaka residents, people in several neighbourhoods, including East Senpara, East Kazipara, Ibrahimpur and East Rajabazar, say power outages have become an unexpected opportunity to collect water.

In August, Bangladesh recorded its third-highest number of dengue cases and deaths for the month since the country’s first major outbreak in 2000, as infections continue to rise.

Despite men accounting for more dengue infections, women are making up a disproportionately higher share of deaths from the disease this year, according to Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) data.

Dhaka Medical College Hospital is receiving a large number of dengue patients from across Bangladesh, many of whom arrive with severe complications that increase their risk of death, doctors and public health experts have said.

With 10 days still to go, August has already recorded 27 percent more dengue cases than all of July, as experts warn infections may continue rising.

With 1,156 dengue patients hospitalised as of yesterday, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital has topped the list of hospitals treating dengue patients this year, followed by Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), Mugda Medical College Hospital and Mitford Hospital.

Dhaka division has emerged as the country’s dengue hotspot, recording 6,871 cases, including 4,404 infections in Dhaka city alone this year.