Dengue, often referred to as break-bone fever, poses a considerable risk. The world has witnessed its spread as an epidemic, affecting millions globally. Amid this global health concern, some myths surrounding dengue are leading to misinformation and misguided treatment approaches. This article is going to debunk 10 myths about dengue. Let’s clear up these misconceptions about this formidable mosquito-borne disease for effective prevention. 10 Misconceptions about Dengue Dengue is Contagious Dengue primarily spreads through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes. It is not a contagious disease. It is not transmitted through person to person contacts. While dengue is not typically transmitted from person to person, there are exceptional circumstances to consider. For instance, an infected pregnant mother can pass the virus to her developing fetus. Additionally, transmission via blood products, organ donation, and transfusions, while extremely rare, is not entirely impossible. Read more: Exploring Dengue Diagnosis: The Essential Tests for Detecting the Virus Dengue Prevails in Rural or Developing Areas This myth does not hold when examining the global reach of this infectious disease. Dengue is not limited to any specific geographical or economic boundaries. Dengue can occur in any country where the Aedes mosquito species are present. This includes tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide, encompassing both urban and semi-urban areas. Children and Elderly Are Susceptible to Dengue It's crucial to clarify that dengue can affect individuals of all ages, regardless of their age, gender, or socioeconomic status. Dengue virus does not discriminate based on age. People of all age groups are susceptible to dengue infection, and this includes infants, children, teenagers, and adults. It's true that certain risk categories, such as children and the elderly, are more vulnerable due to their potentially weakened immune systems. However, even healthy individuals can contract dengue or develop severe symptoms. Read more: Dengue Fever: Symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prevention Any Mosquito Can Carry Dengue Virus In reality, dengue can only be transmitted through the bite of a female mosquito belonging to the Aedes Aegypti or the Aedes Albopictus species. This certain species is distinguished by its characteristic white markings on the legs. The transmission occurs when it bites an infected individual and subsequently bites a healthy and non-infected person. After an incubation period of about a week, the same mosquito can transmit the disease to another individual. It makes these particular mosquito species the primary vectors for dengue transmission. Dengue Mosquitoes Only Bite During the Day While it is true that dengue-spreading mosquitoes are more active during the daytime, their feeding habits can extend into nighttime hours. These mosquitoes are typically most active around two hours after sunrise and a few hours before sunset. However, they have been observed biting people at night, particularly in well-lit areas. One of the risk factors for nighttime exposure to dengue mosquitoes is the presence of artificial lighting. These mosquitoes can be drawn to indoor environments, including offices, malls, indoor auditoriums, and stadiums that use artificial lights throughout the day and night. Read more: How to Protect Babies and Children from Dengue Fever

Forty-one more people were hospitalised with dengue in 24 hours till Sunday morning. The official death toll from the mosquito-borne disease remained unchanged at 281 as no death was recorded during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Of the new patients, 21 were admitted to the hospitals of Dhaka and 20 outside it, said DGHS. A total of 249 dengue patients, including 152 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country. Also Read: 47 more dengue patients hospitalised in 24 hours till Saturday morning The DGHS has recorded 62,423 dengue cases and 61,971 recoveries the past year and first day of the new year.  

With another death reported in 24 hours till Friday morning, this year’s fatalities from Dengue climbed to 193. During this period, 266 patients were hospitalised with the viral fever, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The latest death was reported from Chattogram, taking the death toll in the division to 49. Read more: Dengue death toll rises to 192 with 5 more deaths Of the new patients, 150 were admitted to different hospitals in Dhaka and 116 outside it, according to the DGHS. A total of 3,252 dengue patients, including 1,923 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country. The directorate has recorded 46,752 dengue cases and 43,307 recoveries so far this year. Read more: Dengue death toll in Bangladesh reaches 182, surpassing previous record This year’s fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease reached 182 on Tuesday, exceeding all previous records in Bangladesh. Earlier the country recorded the highest 179 deaths from Dengue in a year in 2019.

Three more deaths from dengue in 24 hours till Thursday morning raised this year’s fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh to 123 During the period, 899 more patients were hospitalised with the viral fever as cases keep rising, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Two deaths were reported from Rajshahi while another was from Chattogram raising the death toll in Chattogram to 37. The dengue death toll remained unchanged at 72 in Dhaka, five in Barishal, at four in Khulna and at three in Mymensingh division. Of the new patients, 491 were admitted to different hospitals in Dhaka and 408 outside it, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). A total of 3,480 dengue patients, including 2,250 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country. The directorate has recorded 34,822 dengue cases and 31,219 recoveries so far this year.

With the nation's healthcare system still only recovering from the blow of the Coronavirus pandemic, many hospitals in the city including Dhaka Medical College Hospital are struggling to provide treatment to the rising number of dengue patients due to a shortage of beds. In scenes reminiscent of the country's worst-ever dengue outbreak in 2019, many patients suffering from dengue fever were seen receiving treatment on floors and balconies as hospitals ran out of beds to accommodate them. Visiting various areas in the city, UNB found a number of medical facilities including Holy Family Hospital, Mugda Medical College and Hospital, Bangladesh Shishu Hospital & Institute, Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Kurmitola General Hospital treating patients on the floor, as all the beds in the respective wards have been filled with patients being treated for the mosquito-borne disease. Read: 409 new Dengue patients hospitalised in 24 hrs, no death Last Sunday (Oct. 23), the number of daily hospitalisations reported by the Directorate General of Health Services crossed 1000 for the first time this year, from 922 the day before. Hospitalisations did drop back down as the week progressed, to reach 750 on Wednesday. The number of infections may start to fall in the first week of November, said Dr Nazmul Islam, Director of the Disease Control Department of DGHS. Recently, the number of dengue patients has increased across the country. But the fatalities can be considerably reduced if patients go to the doctor at the right time, he said. He also said that dengue has increased due to climate change. Besides, the mosquito-borne disease has increased this time due to the lack of awareness also, he said. Read Dengue Fever: Symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prevention A seasonal shift The current surge in cases and deaths is indeed recent. Authorities reported the first death from dengue this year with nearly half of it gone, on June 21. After that there were 9 deaths in July, and 11 in August, but the situation really started exploding in September, that witnessed a spike in the number of deaths to 34. October has been the second-deadliest month for dengue ever witnessed in Bangladesh, with 65 people dying from the disease in just the first 26 days of the month. Public health expert Dr Mohammad Abdus Sabur Khan said that although dengue intensity usually decreases in September, this time the situation has reversed. Read Food, Drinks during Dengue: What to consume, what to avoid “It’s October now, but dengue is showing no sign of retreating. It seems like dengue will prevail till mid-November this time,” Khan said. “Creating awareness among the public is a must to rein in the dengue menace. We’ve taken various steps in this regard,” Health Minister Zahid Maleque told UNB. He went on to name three hospitals - Dhaka North Corporation Hospital, a new unit of BSMMU, and Lalkuthi Hospital - that have been kept ready to deal with any emergency. Many might say the emergency is already here, especially in light of the kind of October we have witnessed. Read Adequate measures taken for treatment of Dengue patients: Health Minister

Another dengue patient died in 24 hours till Wednesday morning, raising this year’s death toll from the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh to 55. During this period, 524 more patients were hospitalised with the viral fever as cases have continued to increase, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). On June 21, the DGHS reported the first death of the season from the viral disease. The latest death was reported from Chattogram division raising the death toll in the division to 24. Read: 40 new dengue patients hospitalized The dengue death toll in Dhaka division remained unchanged at 27 and in Barishal division at four. Of the new patients, 373 were admitted to different hospitals in Dhaka and 151 outside it. A total of 1,820 dengue patients, including 1,388 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country. This year, the directorate has recorded 15,346 dengue cases and 13,471 recoveries so far.

Two more Dengue patients died in 24 hours till Tuesday morning, raising this year’s death toll from the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh to 39. During this period, 353 patients were hospitalised with the viral fever as cases have continued to increase, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The latest deaths were reported from Chattogram and Barishal divisions. Read: Dengue death toll rises to 37 as four more die Two more Dengue patients died in 24 hours till Tuesday morning, raising this year’s death toll from the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh to 39. During this period, 353 patients were hospitalised with the viral fever as cases have continued to increase, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The latest deaths were reported from Chattogram and Barishal divisions. With the new numbers, the dengue death toll in Dhaka division remained unchanged at 17, in Chattogram it rose to 18, and in Barishal division to four. Of the new patients, 238 were admitted to different hospitals in Dhaka and 115 outside it, DGHS said. A total of 1,213 dengue patients, including 895 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country. On June 21, the DGHS reported the first death of the season from the viral disease. This year, the directorate has recorded 9,448 dengue cases and 8,196 recoveries so far. Of the new patients, 238 were admitted to different hospitals in Dhaka and 115 outside it, DGHS said. Read: Day 1 of Anti-dengue drive: DNCC realises over Tk 4 lakh in fines A total of 1,213 dengue patients, including 895 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country. On June 21, the DGHS reported the first death of the season from the viral disease. This year, the directorate has recorded 9,448 dengue cases and 8,196 recoveries so far.

Seventy-three dengue patients were hospitalised in 24 hours till Tuesday morning amid a rise in the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh, authorities said. Among them, 42 patients were hospitalised in Dhaka while the remaining 31 patients in other districts, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). As many as 141 dengue patients, including 107 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country. The dengue cases are rising in the capital allegedly due to insufficient measures taken by the two Dhaka city corporations for preventing mosquito-borne diseases like dengue. On June 21, the DGHS reported the first death of the season from the mosquito-borne viral disease. This year, the DGHS has recorded 1,477 dengue cases and 1,335 recoveries so far. Read:Dengue: 32 patients hospitalised in Dhaka in 24hrs Although dengue – a leading cause of serious illness and death in some Asian and Latin American countries – was first reported in Bangladesh in 1964, the first epidemic occurred in 2000, claiming 93 lives that year. It has since become endemic in the country, with outbreaks recorded every year since. Although for a three-year period at one point, the number of deaths from the virus fell almost near zero, its most fatal year yet was in 2019, when 179 died experiencing the severe form of the disease. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020, it seemed to take a backseat, as only three deaths were reported from dengue that year. However, 105 dengue patients, including 95 in Dhaka division, died in 2021. Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas. About 4 billion people, almost half of the world's population, live in areas with a risk of dengue, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Each year, up to 400 million people get infected with dengue while approximately 100 million get sick from infection, and 40,000 die from severe dengue, it says. "There is no specific treatment for dengue or severe dengue. Early detection of disease progression associated with severe dengue, and access to proper medical care lowers fatality rates of severe dengue to below 1 per cent," according to the World Health Organization.

Twenty-three new dengue patients were hospitalized in 24 hours till Friday morning, health authorities said. With no new deaths till Friday, the number of fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease remained 101 during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Ninety-two people died in Dhaka division alone, three in Mymensingh division, two each in Chattogram, and Khulna divisions and one each in Rajshahi and Barishal divisions. Read: Dengue: 1 more dies, 31 new patients hospitalized in 24 hrs Fifteen new patients are undergoing treatment at hospitals in Dhaka while the remaining 8 cases have been reported from outside the division. Some 195 patients who were diagnosed with dengue are receiving treatment in the country as of Friday. Of them, 130 patients are receiving treatment at different hospitals in the capital while the remaining 65 were listed outside Dhaka. Since January, some 27,893 patients have been admitted to different hospitals with dengue in the country. So far, 27,597 dengue patients have left hospitals after recovery, said DGHS. Read: Dengue: 60 more hospitalized in 24 hrs Experts attribute the unusually high dengue cases during the dry season, mainly in Dhaka, to the prolonged rainy season, sporadic rainfall, and high humidity and temperature, Aedes mosquitoes' reproductive and behavioural changes caused by climate change and lack of people’s awareness and poor controlling measures by the two city corporations of the capital. They also said the climate conditions of Bangladesh are becoming more favourable for the Aedes mosquitos to prevail in all seasons with high or low intensity mainly for the increase in temperature and breeding sources.

Sixty-nine new dengue patients were hospitalised in 24 hours until Tuesday morning, health authorities said. The number of fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease remained unchanged at 98 in the current year as no fresh death was reported during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Read: Dengue: 75 more patients hospitalised in 24 hrs Of the deceased, 90 people have died in Dhaka division alone, two each in Chattogram, Mymensingh and Khulna divisions and one each in Rajshahi and Barishal divisions. Fifty nine new patients are undergoing treatment in hospitals in Dhaka while the remaining 10 cases have been reported from outside the division. Some 373 patients diagnosed with dengue are receiving treatment in the country as of Tuesday. Read:Dengue: 87 more patients hospitalised in 24 hrs Of them, 268 patients are receiving treatment at different hospitals in the capital while the remaining 105 were listed outside Dhaka. Since January, some 27,222 patients have been admitted to different hospitals with dengue in the country. So far, 26,751 dengue patients have left hospitals after recovery, said DGHS.