Dengue Epidemic Situation in Bangladesh

Abstract

Up to 50-100 million infections are now estimated to occur annually in over 100 endemic countries, putting almost half of the world’s population at risk. Bangladesh is one of the countries that are affected by dengue viruses. Dengue is a viral infection caused by four types of viruses (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, DENV-4) belonging to the Flaviviridae family. Mosquitoes are vectors of this arbovirus and breed in areas with standing water, including puddles, water tanks, containers, and old tires. Lack of reliable sanitation and regular garbage collection also contribute to the spread of mosquitoes. The disease has probably been known since the Chinese described it in 420 AD. Outbreaks are increasing although there is no human- to-human transmission only mosquito-to-human viral transmission. The disease is colloquially known by Africans as “kadingapepo” as cramp-like seizure caused by an evil spirit. The Spanish may have changed “dinga” to dengue since it means fastidious or careful in Spanish, which describes the gait of people trying to reduce the pain of walking. With the increasing number of patients, hospitals outside Dhaka are facing huge challenges to cope with the pressure, mostly due to lack of diagnosis chemicals, kits, and other medical support.