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The death rate from dengue has fallen by nearly 40 per cent this year compared with previous years, thanks to the government’s early planning, coordinated measures and improved treatment, State Minister for Health Dr MA Muhith said on Tuesday.
“Specialised training for doctors and science-based treatment have helped reduce the dengue fatality rate. Previously, five out of every 1,000 patients died, but the figure has now fallen to three,” he said.
He made the remarks while responding to journalists after a seminar on mental health at the Bangla Academy.
The state minister said the government had drawn up a specific action plan to tackle dengue four months in advance and issued warnings about the expected peak of infections.
About two months ago, authorities forecast that dengue cases would peak from late September through October and could remain high until November, he said.
Although the number and severity of cases remain significantly lower than during the severe outbreak in 2023, the government is not taking the current situation lightly, Muhith said, adding that every death was painful and efforts were underway to bring infections down to zero.
Describing field-level initiatives, he said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had launched a cleanliness and awareness campaign at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad, involving around 1,000 young volunteers from the Red Crescent, Scouts and other organisations.
Special cleanliness drives are also being conducted at all government institutions every Saturday, while schools, colleges and social and cultural organisations have been mobilised to expand the campaign nationwide.
Dhaka and Khulna divisions are currently facing a higher burden of dengue patients, he said, adding that city corporation administrators, their teams and health officials were working round the clock to eliminate mosquitoes and their larvae.
Emphasising public responsibility, Muhith said law enforcement alone could not prevent the disease. In Dhaka’s apartment buildings, security restrictions sometimes prevent cleaning workers from accessing premises without the presence of magistrates or mobile courts.
Stagnant water behind basement parking areas and in discarded electronic appliance cartons can become breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes, he said.
He urged residents to regularly clean their homes, rooftops, balconies, flowerpots and ground-floor areas to prevent mosquito breeding and protect their families from dengue.
On dengue vaccines, the state minister said the issue had been discussed in detail at a meeting with the prime minister on Tuesday.
He said two or three dengue vaccines had progressed through various stages of clinical trials and received approval for use, mainly in the private sector, in around 30 countries. India has also recently allowed the private-sector use of a vaccine, he added.
However, Bangladesh would take a cautious approach before granting widespread approval, Muhith said, stressing the need to thoroughly examine scientific opinions, clinical data, safety and effectiveness among the country’s population.
A vaccine would not immediately stop the current seasonal outbreak but could provide protection in the future, he said.
The government is also exploring the feasibility and potential trials of advanced vector-control technology developed in Japan to combat Aedes mosquitoes.
Muhith said nearly 2,000 doctors from medical colleges and district hospitals across all 64 districts had received refresher training in dengue treatment.
The training had contributed to significant improvements in patient management and helped keep the overall fatality rate under control, he added.