DHAKA, Sept 22, 2025 (BSS) - The risk of death among dengue patients is rising as many are arriving at hospitals too late for effective treatment, Professor Dr. Abu Zafar, Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), said today.

“Patients are often coming to hospitals late, in critical condition. This limits the opportunity for proper treatment. To overcome this situation, public awareness is essential. Failure to seek treatment in time increases the risk of death,” he told a press conference at the DGHS conference room.

Dr. Zafar explained that if treatment is not started at the very onset of the disease, dengue can rapidly progress into severe forms. Once complications such as shock, hemorrhage, and organ failure appear, saving patients becomes extremely difficult.

“This year, the highest mortality has been observed among patients aged 20 to 30. Many of them were admitted to hospitals six or seven days after fever onset and died within two to three days of admission. Children have also shown a higher risk of death,” he added.

Stressing the need for public awareness, the DGHS chief said that anyone with fever should undergo dengue testing immediately and not neglect the symptoms.

“If diagnosis and treatment are delayed, the risk of death rises. Whatever measures are taken, it will be very difficult to control infectious diseases like dengue without public awareness,” he noted.

Analyzing the causes of 113 dengue-related deaths this year, It was found that most patients suffered from shock syndrome, organ failure, or other critical conditions before death, he said, adding, “Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) accounted for the largest number of fatalities.”

According to a DGHS report, 56 patients died due to DSS, while 36 died from Expanded Dengue Syndrome (EDS). One death was attributed to Dengue Hemorrhagic Syndrome (DHS). 

In addition, nine patients died from combined DSS and EDS, five from organ failure and multiple organ dysfunction, and six from dengue complicated by cardiac shock.