Dhaka: Bangladesh’s dengue outbreak is accelerating, with more than 42,000 people hospitalised and 117 deaths recorded this year, according to health ministry data.
At least four dengue patients died, and 1,558 people were hospitalised in the 24 hours to September 6, marking the highest daily number of admissions recorded so far this year.
The sharp rise has placed additional pressure on hospitals already dealing with a nationwide measles outbreak, which has killed nearly 1,000 children this year.
Dengue, a mosquito borne disease that can cause high fever, severe headaches and potentially fatal complications, has spread rapidly in recent weeks. The increase has revived concerns following Bangladesh’s deadliest dengue outbreak in 2023.
Health experts are particularly concerned about the outlook for September. August recorded the highest monthly dengue caseload of the year, but specialists warn infections could rise further this month.
Professor Kabirul Bashar, a medical entomologist at Jahangirnagar University, said his surveillance and forecasting model indicated that dengue hospitalisations could exceed 30,000 in September if current trends continue.
He also warned that weather conditions could support dengue transmission into October, potentially extending pressure on hospitals and health services.
The latest figures highlight the continuing challenge of controlling dengue in Bangladesh, where seasonal weather conditions can create favourable breeding grounds for the mosquitoes that transmit the disease.
With daily admissions reaching a yearly high and another infectious disease outbreak placing demands on the healthcare system, authorities face mounting pressure to strengthen disease surveillance, mosquito control and hospital preparedness.
The September trend will be closely watched as health officials seek to prevent the current surge from developing into another major national dengue crisis.
