Dhaka, Sept. 18 -- Bangladesh's dengue situation has taken a worrying turn this month, with the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) reporting 79 deaths in the first 17 days of September.

According to DGHS data, a total of 176 dengue patients have died from the mosquito-borne disease since January 1 this year.

Of them, two died in January, two in February, one in May, 13 in June, 36 in July and 43 in August.

September alone accounted for 79 fatalities, representing around 44.89 percent of the total deaths recorded so far this year.

Besides, a total of 22,554 dengue patients were admitted to hospitals across the country in the first 17 days of September, which is also the highest monthly figure so far this year.

In August, a ...