The United Nations Children’s Fund has warned of an increase in dengue cases among children in Bangladesh, sparking an epidemic that has claimed 537 lives.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) warned this Sunday of the increase in dengue cases among children in Bangladesh, causing an epidemic that has claimed 537 lives.
According to a Unicef statement, children “are once again on the front lines of climate change as the dengue crisis intensifies,” with almost 20% of the more than 112,000 cases registered this year concentrated in Bangladesh.
“The need right now is for communities to make sure that mosquitoes do not breed in their homes and take all precautionary measures to keep them away,” explained UNICEF Bangladesh representative Sheldon Yett, who referred to to the investment of around two million euros from his agency in the increase in tests and training of health professionals.
On August 21, Bangladesh surpassed its annual record for cases of this potentially deadly viral infection transmitted by female mosquitoes, mainly of the Aedes species.
Symptoms of the disease include headache, muscle and joint pain, and skin rashes on the body.
The number of deaths is also the highest ever recorded in the Asian country and, according to the authorities, it already amounts to more than 537 deaths.
In general, dengue cases in Bangladesh start to increase in July and decrease from October.
Experts affirm that factors such as climate change, unplanned urbanization and problems in the distribution of drinking water contribute to the increase in the incidence of this disease.
Source: Observadora
