Dengue fever: What you need to know about the mosquito-borne illness sweeping Jamaica
FOX NewsSep 30, 2023
The Facts
At least 176 people have died of dengue fever in Bangladesh, with some health officials saying the disease has reached an “epidemic” status. However, the Bangladeshi government hasn't officially declared the outbreak as such.
On July 16, the Bangladesh Medical Association pushed authorities to declare the dengue outbreak a “public wellness emergency” but the Directorate General of Health Services has said that the outbreak has not risen to the level of alarm needed for an epidemic.
The Spin
Narrative A
The Bangladeshi government is not doing enough to stop the spread of the dengue virus. The death rate from the virus has gotten alarmingly high, and the children of Bangladesh are at a heightened risk. The outbreak has reached an appropriate threat level to be considered an epidemic.
Narrative B
While this recent outbreak of the dengue virus is horrible, it's not an epidemic just yet per the Bangladeshi government. There are also multiple factors — from construction to climate change — to blame for this outbreak despite the government's diligent mitigation measures.