DHAKA – With the deaths of 23 dengue patients over the last four days, experts have said late hospitalisation and reinfections are some of the main causes of this year’s fatalities.

They also cited a lack of testing facilities in government primary healthcare centres and the country’s overall poor healthcare system as reasons.

Till yesterday morning, 166 patients have died so far this year — 80 of whom died in July alone — and the number of dengue cases stands at 32,082.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services, the dengue death rate so far this year is 0.51 percent, up from last year’s 0.50.

Prof Ahmedul Kabir, former additional director general of DGHS, said many of the cases they have received are reinfected patients.