There is no vaccine or drug that specifically treats dengue, which is common in South Asia during the June-to-September monsoon season when the Aedes aegypti mosquito that spreads the deadly virus thrives in stagnant water.
Experts said they expect to get more cases through August and September. This year’s deaths already top the previous record of 281 from last year, with the number of people infected just behind the 62,423 cases in 2022.
Early detection and access to proper medical care can reduce deaths to fewer than 1 per cent of sufferers.
“When the pre-monsoon rains started in April, so did the Aedes mosquito breeding. The virus had already spread within the community, therefore, it was also being transmitted,” said Kabirul Bashar, professor of entomology at Jahangirnagar University.
“This is the reason why we saw such a high number of dengue cases in July. This will probably increase further in August and September,” he said.
Dr Yasir Arafat, Save the Children’s senior health and nutrition advisor for Asia, said: “Across Asia, extreme weather events are throwing the lives of children into disarray and this alarming surge in severe dengue outbreaks is just another issue impacting their physical and mental health.”