Bangladesh dengue deaths rise as October begins

Bangladesh recorded 148 dengue deaths in September, its highest monthly toll this year, as health authorities reported 245 deaths and 79,620 hospital admissions since January. Experts say rainfall and changing weather patterns could sustain transmission through October.

Qom Desk

4 October 20262 min read

Image: WebPhoto: QOM

Dhaka: Bangladesh entered October with a rise in dengue infections and deaths, adding pressure on hospitals already treating a measles outbreak.

Health ministry figures show that at least 245 people have died from dengue and 79,620 patients have been admitted to hospital since the start of the year.

September accounted for 148 deaths, compared with 43 in August and 36 in July. On Wednesday, six more deaths were reported and 1,948 patients were admitted to hospital, with 5,485 receiving treatment across the country.

Health experts said rainfall in September could continue to affect dengue transmission during October because infections can rise several weeks after periods of rain.

Medical entomologist Kabirul Bashar of Jahangirnagar University said dengue carrying Aedes mosquitoes had spread beyond major cities, making mosquito control a nationwide issue. He said removing breeding sites was necessary alongside pesticide fogging.

Researchers have also linked temperature, rainfall and humidity to changes in dengue transmission, with shifting weather patterns affecting mosquito breeding periods.

The dengue outbreak comes as Bangladesh is also dealing with measles. Government figures show 21,520 confirmed measles cases since March 15, while more than 190,000 people have sought medical care for suspected measles or similar symptoms.

More than 1,100 children have died from measles this year, according to the figures cited in the report.

Public health specialists have called for measures to reduce stagnant water and mosquito breeding, warning that simultaneous disease outbreaks are placing additional demands on the healthcare system.