Dengue fever is no longer considered a seasonal disease, experts have said, warning that it may persist to some extent throughout the year. Previously, dengue was considered seasonal, typically starting in April or May and ending around September or October. However, now it appears to be present, in varying degrees, year-round. Although dengue cases were expected to decrease in winter, last year it did not subside even during the colder months. There is concern that this trend may continue, and it is uncertain whether cases will decrease this winter. According to experts, even if dengue does not rise in winter, it is likely to linger at some level.
On Friday afternoon, a visit to the specialized dengue ward at Shaheed Suhrawardy Hospital in Dhaka revealed that the women’s ward had no vacant beds, and only seven beds remained free in the men’s ward. Shukran Nesar, a 52-year-old patient in bed 27 of the women’s ward, had come from Katgara, Savar. Her daughter, Khadija Akhter, explained that her mother had been suffering from dengue fever for eight days. By the third day, she developed sores on her gums and tongue, followed by gum bleeding, though she had initially kept it to herself. When her condition worsened, she informed her daughter, who then brought her to the hospital based on advice from local pharmacy staff.
In bed 30 of the same ward was Mosammat Minu, aged 42, who had been hospitalized for three days. She experienced fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and blood in her stool, which led her to notify her daughter-in-law when she was nearly unconscious. After her family brought her to the hospital, she was diagnosed with dengue.
Another patient, Nipa Akhter, age 28, in bed 28, resides in Mohammadpur. She had been unwell for seven days and only discovered she had dengue upon admission to the hospital, following severe weakness and difficulty walking.
In the men’s dengue ward, Noor Alam, age 39, lay in bed 4. After six days of fever, accompanied by mouth sores, diarrhea, and chills, he was brought to the hospital from Gabtali Aminbazar when his condition deteriorated. Another patient, Masud Rana, age 30, occupying bed 56 in the same ward, initially thought he had a typical fever. However, when his symptoms worsened, a doctor confirmed he had dengue.
Doctors noted that dengue symptoms often resemble those of seasonal fevers, leading many to attribute them to weather changes. As a result, patients may delay medical care, seeking help only when symptoms become severe. This delay has contributed to the increasing number of severe dengue cases and fatalities. Doctors recommend undergoing an NS1 test within the first or second day of fever onset to accurately confirm a dengue diagnosis.
Emeritus Professor Dr. A B M Abdullah explained that dengue is now present throughout the year rather than seasonally. While it was once mostly observed from April to October, cases have been observed to persist year-round, even in winter, contrary to prior patterns. He advised the public to stay vigilant, seek timely medical help, and conduct an NS1 test early if fever symptoms appear, as the prevalence of dengue is likely to remain.
