Health Two children per hospital bed: dengue outbreak in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is battling a serious outbreak of dengue fever. Children are particularly affected by the disease. In order to accommodate the many sick people, they sometimes have to lie in bed together.
07.11.2024, 12:39
SDA
The dengue virus is transmitted by mosquitoes, particularly in the tropics and subtropics. In October, 134 deaths were recorded in Bangladesh, more than in any other month since the beginning of the year. The total number of deaths thus rose to 326.
This is fewer than last year, when more than 1,000 people died from the disease in the South Asian country. However, doctors complain that Bangladesh is now affected by dengue fever all year round due to rising temperatures and heavy rainfall. At the beginning of November, the number of cases of infection was more than 65,000.
WHO warns of spread
So far, dengue fever has mainly been found in South and South-East Asia, Central and South America and Africa. However, due to globalization and climate change, dengue fever is on the rise worldwide, with more than 130 countries now affected.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warns of an "alarming" spread of the virus: since 2021, the number of cases reported worldwide has roughly doubled every year, according to the data. In the first eight months of this year, more than 12.3 million cases of infection and more than 7900 deaths were reported worldwide.
There are vaccines, but so far no medication against the virus. Only the symptoms are treated, for example with antipyretics. The symptoms of the disease are similar to those of severe flu. In severe cases, it can also lead to internal bleeding and be fatal. Children are particularly at risk.
