Bangladesh: Dengue 'Epidemic' Kills Over 170

Improve the News Foundation -

Facts

  • At least 176 people have died of dengue fever in Bangladesh, with some health officials saying the disease has reached an “epidemic” status. However, the Bangladeshi government hasn't officially declared the outbreak as such.1
  • On July 16, the Bangladesh Medical Association pushed authorities to declare the dengue outbreak a “public wellness emergency” but the Directorate General of Health Services has said that the outbreak has not risen to the level of alarm needed for an epidemic.2
  • Officials say that the death rate is at a five-year high of 0.53% this year compared to last year's record death rate of 0.45% where 281 people died of dengue virus in Bangladesh. The excessively high death rate has been called "alarming."3
  • Experts warn the outbreak may worsen in the near future, as both dengue-related hospitalizations and deaths in Bangladesh usually peak in August and September.2
  • Dengue virus is common during the monsoon season in South Asia, which runs from June to September. The virus has no specific treatment, but with early detection and the appropriate medical treatment, less than 1% of cases are fatal.1
  • With more than 90% of dengue cases reported from urban areas, many Bangladeshis blame their local governments for not taking steps to stop the breeding of mosquitoes that cause the disease. Authorities however have rejected these claims, saying that they have been conducting dengue awareness campaigns since May, and spraying repellents.3

Sources: 1Abplive, 2Bdtype Rss, and 3Al Jazeera.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by ABP Live. The Bangladeshi government is not doing enough to stop the spread of the dengue virus. The death rate from the virus has gotten alarmingly high, and the children of Bangladesh are at a heightened risk. The outbreak has reached an appropriate threat level to be considered an epidemic.
  • Narrative B, as provided by Al Jazeera. While this recent outbreak of the dengue virus is horrible, it's not an epidemic just yet per the Bangladeshi government. There are also multiple factors — from construction to climate change — to blame for this outbreak despite the government's diligent mitigation measures.