A deadly outbreak of dengue fever has struck Bangladesh. Infections continue to rise as 364 people have already been confirmed dead from the mosquito-borne illness.

According to a report by ABC News, officials are warning that the death toll this month could break records. The government’s Directorate General of Health Services reports the 2023 death toll from the mosquito-borne illness has reached 364 in the South Asian country. More than 78,000 people have been infected since January this year, it said.

Officials warn that the number of deaths and infections this month could set a new, grim record. In the first 10 days of August, more than 23,000 people were diagnosed with dengue, compared to 43,854 cases during all of July. More than 100 people have died so far this month, over a third as many deaths from the illness during all of last year.

In 2022, 62,382 people were infected and 281 people died of dengue, according to government figures. –ABC News

Dengue causes flu-like symptoms that most people recover from, but also can rapidly lead to internal bleeding, organ failure, and even death. There generally is no specific treatment for the disease, but vaccines are available for those the ruling class can panic into taking.  Other countries, such as Cyprus and Bolivia, also have seen outbreaks this year.

Mohammed Niatuzzaman, Director of Mugdha Medical Collage Hospital, said on Thursday that health authorities were struggling to provide critical support to serious patients who have other ailments. Many of the critical patients are dying, he said. Hospitals are also “overwhelmed” as some doctors and nurses lack sufficient training to deal with dengue fever.

“People who have weaker immune system are at higher risk to be infected multiple times by a virulent variant (of dengue),” he said. Of fighting this disease, he said: “It must start from individual level and rise to our collective effort. Doctors are only a part of it. If we work together and everybody shows awareness and acts responsibly, our collective effort will make dengue prevention possible,” he said.

The ruling class is currently spraying for mosquitos, but some say that the insects aren’t dying from the spray.