Dengue death toll now 400

11 die in deadliest day of the year; experts blame delayed diagnosis, hospitalisation

Published : 28 October 2026

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Updated : 28 October 2026, 02:44

Helemul Alam

At least 11 dengue patients died yesterday, taking this year’s death toll to 400, as health experts warned of delayed diagnosis and hospitalisation, inadequate treatment and gaps in dengue management.So far, 128,237 dengue patients have been hospitalised nationwide this year, according to the Directorate General of Health Services.Dengue admissions have started to decline compared with previous weeks, but a larger proportion of patients arriving at hospitals are critically ill, said HM Nazmul Ahsan, associate professor at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital.“We are seeing a significant number of patients arriving in shock, with undetectable blood pressure and falling oxygen saturation.”Patients suffering from dengue shock have a much better chance of recovery if they receive treatment early. Delays, however, could cause irreversible damage to vital organs and significantly increase the risk of death.Patients sometimes lose valuable time during transportation, emergency assessment and admission procedures, allowing their conditions to deteriorate before they receive appropriate care.He also identified elderly people, patients with underlying health conditions and those who are obese as particularly vulnerable to severe dengue outcomes.Ahsan stressed that timely, appropriate use of intravenous fluids, blood products and other treatments is crucial for critically ill patients.He has also observed severe complications, including liver failure, kidney failure, respiratory failure, heart failure and myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle, among dengue patients this year.Such complications appeared to be more common than in previous years, although further studies are needed to establish the reasons behind the increase in severe cases and deaths.The circulation of dengue virus serotype 3 (DENV-3) could be another contributing factor, Ahsan said, adding that variations within a serotype might influence disease severity.Repeat dengue infections and delays in diagnosis and treatment are among the key factors contributing to the rising number of deaths, said ABM Abdullah, medicine specialist at Central Hospital.Many patients who died might have been infected with dengue previously, potentially increasing their vulnerability to complications from subsequent infections.He urged people to seek medical advice and get tested for dengue if they develop symptoms such as fever, body aches or other signs of illness, rather than waiting for their conditions to worsen.He also advised patients with suspected dengue to drink sufficient fluids, including water and oral rehydration solution (ORS), to prevent dehydration.Paracetamol may help control fever under appropriate medical guidance, but patients should avoid other painkillers unless prescribed by a doctor.“If a patient cannot take fluids orally, staying at home is not advisable. They need to be taken to hospital for proper assessment and treatment,” he said.Public health expert Mushtuq Hussain suggested piloting free dengue testing at existing primary healthcare facilities and referring vulnerable patients to hospitals when necessary.Reducing dengue deaths required a comprehensive approach involving community-level prevention, affordable early testing, timely referrals and proper hospital management, rather than relying solely on tertiary hospitals.