Dhaka: At least 40 people have died from dengue in Bangladesh, with over 50,000 cases reported throughout the country since January, authorities said Saturday, Efe news reported. The number of confirmed cases recorded is more than five times higher than any other year in the South Asian country that has been struggling to contain the surge of dengue patients. Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection, which causes flu-like illness, according to the World Health Organization.

The symptoms include headaches, muscle and joint pains, and body rashes. Dengue, which is a potentially deadly complication, is transmitted by female mosquitoes mainly of the Aedes species.