One in every 6 dengue deaths is a child: UNICEF

One in every six deaths resulting from the Dengue outbreak was a child under the age of 15, according to a recent report by UNICEF.
The situation report, published on December 15, further shows that one in every five people infected by the mosquito-borne disease was a child, reports UNB.
As of December 18, 2023, Bangladesh has seen a record 319,475 dengue cases since January 1, 2023. The number of fatalities has also surged to an alarming 1,686, marking the highest death toll ever recorded in a dengue outbreak.
According to the UNICEF study, children under the age of 15 constitute 17 per cent of those infected.
Alarmingly, children under five are at an increased risk of severe illness, with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 0.30 per cent, the report shows.
Among the reported 1,686 deaths, 57 per cent were female, while 10 per cent were children below 15 years old.
The report specifically shed light on the plight of dengue outbreak among the Rohingya refugees taking shelter in multiple camps across Cox's Bazar.