Officially Confirmed COVID-19 and Unreported COVID-19–Like Illness Death Counts: An Assessment of Reporting Discrepancy in Bangladesh

Authors

Mazbahul G. Ahamad, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Fahian Tanin, Independent Researcher, Sylhet
Byomkesh Talukder, York University, Toronto
Monir Ahmed, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet

Date of this Version

2021

Citation

Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 104(2), 2021, pp. 546–548 doi:10.4269/ajtmh.20-1205

Comments

2021 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Abstract

Reporting discrepancies between officially confirmed COVID-19 death counts and unreported COVID- 19–like illness (CLI) death counts have been evident across the world, including Bangladesh. Publicly available data were used to explore the differences between confirmed COVID-19 death counts and deaths with possible COVID-19 symptoms between March 2, 2020 and August 22, 2020. Unreported CLI death counts totaled more than half of the confirmed COVID-19 death counts during the study period. However, the reporting authority did not consider CLI deaths, which might produce incomplete and unreliable COVID-19 data and respective mortality rates. All deaths with possible COVID-19 symptoms need to be included in provisional death counts to better estimate the COVID-19 mortality rate and to develop data-driven COVID-19 response strategies. An urgent initiative is needed to prepare a comprehensive guideline for reporting COVID-19 deaths.