9 more people died of Dengue fever across the country till Monday noon while another 1,042 patients were admitted to different hospitals across the country. New deathsreported has taken the country's Dengue death toll for 2025 to 212. In addition, 49,907 confirmed cases have also been reported so far.
The Health Emergency Operations Center and Control Room of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) have released the update on Sunday. The country recorded 101,214 Dengue cases and 575 deaths in 2024. And in 2023 the country recorded its highest toll in recent years, with 1,705 deaths and 321,179 hospitalizations due to the deadly fever. Apprehensively enough, some three months left to the year remains for registering more deaths.
However,the country once more keeps witnessing a sharp year-on-year surge in Dengue outbreaks with cases up by 81 percent and deaths by 43 percent. But unlike previous years, most cases have been reported from outside the capital.This year, most patients are suffering from secondary Dengue infections, which are graver and carry a higher risk of death.
Unquestionably, intermittent rain and a lack of mosquito control drives are key factors behind the sharp rise in Dengue cases this year, and given changing climate and weather forecast reports it is most likely the rains would continue up until mid-November.
The million-dollarquestion,however, why are we continually failing to efficiently address the Dengue disaster year after year?
From our end, we can see a complex mix of systemic, environmental and public health failures. Key issues include government mismanagement, rapid and unplanned urbanization, climate change and weak community engagement. Moreover, ineffective vector control measures, irregularities and corruption in procurement of pesticides, including purchase of ineffective products continues to keep wasting public funds while undermining control efforts.
Need of the hour demands a comprehensive and sustained strategy that moves beyond reactive, short-term measures. Though the government had drafted a National Dengue Prevention and Control Strategy for 2024-2030, but its success depends on coordinated, well-resourced and science-driven execution.
This is sadly missing.
For the time being, we urge city corporationauthorities to conduct regular, coordinated clean-up drives, preferably twice a week, so to eliminate mosquito breeding sites such as discarded containers, tires and water stored in household items.Root causes of mosquito breeding, such as poor drainage and inadequate waste management must be urgently addressed. This requires promptcollaboration between health, urban planning and sanitation agencies.
Targeted public awareness programmes through the mainstream and social media can surely help in creating public awareness. But from next year, we expect campaigns tocommence before the monsoon season and continue throughout the year.
