Wednesday, 01 October, 2025
Dengue infections in Bangladesh are climbing at an alarming rate as October draws to a close, with health officials warning that the country may be headed for its deadliest season yet.
So far this year, 43,173 patients have been admitted to hospital with dengue and 182 have died. Between Sept 1 and 23 alone, 11,697 people were hospitalised -- the highest of any month this year -- while the mosquito-borne disease claimed 60 lives over the same three weeks.An analysis of health directorate data shows that from Jan 1 to Sept 23, hospitals admitted an average of 162.92 dengue patients per day. In September alone, the daily average has surged to 509.
Weekly data show a relentless rise in hospitalisations: an average of 419 patients per day in the first week of September, 497 in the second, and 556 in the third (Sept 15–21). The figures represent a steep escalation from earlier in the year, when daily averages were 339 in August, 345 in July, 198 in June, and fewer than 60 a day between January and May.
Hospital occupancy rates are following the same trend. Nationwide, the number of in-patients receiving treatment on an average day rose from 1,563 in the first week of September to 1,960 by the third week, straining hospital resources, particularly in Dhaka where wards are nearing capacity.
Deaths have surged as well — by Sept 23, the month’s toll had reached 60, an average of 2.61 deaths per day. Week-by-week data reveal a worrying acceleration: 1.86 daily deaths in the first week, 2.14 in the second, and 4.14 in the third week.
Public health experts warn that the official data likely understate the true scale of the outbreak, since many infected people either self-medicate or never make it to hospitals.
Dengue, caused by the bite of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, often leads to high fever, severe headache, muscle pain, and in some cases hemorrhagic complications that can be fatal if untreated. The disease thrives in urban environments, as Aedes mosquitoes breed in clean, stagnant water — from rooftop tanks to discarded containers and clogged drains.
Bangladesh’s rapid urbanisation, inadequate waste management, and persistent waterlogging during the monsoon months have created ideal breeding conditions, triggering repeated outbreaks in recent years.
Experts fear October may see an even steeper rise in cases. In 2024, hospital admissions tripled from 10,267 in September to 30,879 in October, the deadliest month of that year. Weather conditions this year are following a similar pattern, with intermittent rains leaving behind stagnant water that accelerates mosquito breeding.
Professor Kabirul Bashar, who led a recent mosquito density survey with Dhaka North City Corporation, described the situation as “dangerous.”
His team found the Breteau Index — a measure of Aedes infestation — at 40, 60, and even 80 in some parts of Dhaka, far exceeding the World Health Organization’s alert level of 20. “In almost every part of Dhaka, the index is above 40.
"Outside Dhaka, you won’t find a single district where the index is below 20,” he said and warned that the outbreak could worsen in the coming weeks without urgent intervention, emphasising that Aedes mosquitoes breed inside homes.
“Public awareness is crucial. Without community participation, there is no way out of this crisis. People must eliminate breeding sites, and city authorities must carry out larviciding and fogging campaigns consistently,” he said.
Mushtuq Husain, advisor to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), echoed those concerns, stressing that rainfall patterns continue to drive the outbreak.
“There has been no improvement in cleanliness. When rain stops and the sun comes out, mosquito eggs hatch. When it rains again, breeding sites increase. That’s why the outbreak can continue for up to two months after the rains stop,” he said.
He called for a nationwide cleanliness drive involving thousands of young volunteers, pointing to the successful elimination of malaria in Bangladesh through mass participation. “Kolkata has managed to control dengue. We can too, if the government gives it top priority. But around us, the cleaning simply isn’t happening,” he added.
The lack of coordination among government bodies is emerging as another barrier. On Sept 16, DGHS issued 12 directives to medical college and hospital authorities to improve patient management. At a subsequent press conference, DGHS Director General Abu Jafar said local government institutions must step up, as mosquito control is their mandate.
“Dengue control needs a fully coordinated approach. Unfortunately, the efforts of health services, local government, and city authorities are not always jointly organised,” he said.
DGHS Director (Hospitals and Clinics) Dr Abu Hossain Md Moinul Ahsan reinforced this point, saying, “The health department cannot and should not carry out cleaning activities outside hospitals. That is the job of the local government bodies. We have written to every city corporation and municipality, urging them to intensify mosquito control.”
As cases rise daily, experts warn that without urgent, coordinated action to destroy breeding sites, boost public awareness, and strengthen hospital preparedness, Bangladesh risks facing a repeat — or even a worsening — of last year’s deadly October peak.
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Dengue infections in Bangladesh are climbing at an alarming rate as October draws to a close, with health officials warning that the country may be headed for its deadliest season yet.
So far this year, 43,173 patients have been admitted to hospital with dengue and 182 have died. Between Sept 1 and 23 alone, 11,697 people were hospitalised -- the highest of any month this year -- while the mosquito-borne disease claimed 60 lives over the same three weeks.An analysis of health directorate data shows that from Jan 1 to Sept 23, hospitals admitted an average of 162.92 dengue patients per day. In September alone, the daily average has surged to 509.
Weekly data show a relentless rise in hospitalisations: an average of 419 patients per day in the first week of September, 497 in the second, and 556 in the third (Sept 15–21). The figures represent a steep escalation from earlier in the year, when daily averages were 339 in August, 345 in July, 198 in June, and fewer than 60 a day between January and May.
Hospital occupancy rates are following the same trend. Nationwide, the number of in-patients receiving treatment on an average day rose from 1,563 in the first week of September to 1,960 by the third week, straining hospital resources, particularly in Dhaka where wards are nearing capacity.
Deaths have surged as well — by Sept 23, the month’s toll had reached 60, an average of 2.61 deaths per day. Week-by-week data reveal a worrying acceleration: 1.86 daily deaths in the first week, 2.14 in the second, and 4.14 in the third week.
Public health experts warn that the official data likely understate the true scale of the outbreak, since many infected people either self-medicate or never make it to hospitals.
Dengue, caused by the bite of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, often leads to high fever, severe headache, muscle pain, and in some cases hemorrhagic complications that can be fatal if untreated. The disease thrives in urban environments, as Aedes mosquitoes breed in clean, stagnant water — from rooftop tanks to discarded containers and clogged drains.
Bangladesh’s rapid urbanisation, inadequate waste management, and persistent waterlogging during the monsoon months have created ideal breeding conditions, triggering repeated outbreaks in recent years.
Experts fear October may see an even steeper rise in cases. In 2024, hospital admissions tripled from 10,267 in September to 30,879 in October, the deadliest month of that year. Weather conditions this year are following a similar pattern, with intermittent rains leaving behind stagnant water that accelerates mosquito breeding.
Professor Kabirul Bashar, who led a recent mosquito density survey with Dhaka North City Corporation, described the situation as “dangerous.”
His team found the Breteau Index — a measure of Aedes infestation — at 40, 60, and even 80 in some parts of Dhaka, far exceeding the World Health Organization’s alert level of 20. “In almost every part of Dhaka, the index is above 40.
"Outside Dhaka, you won’t find a single district where the index is below 20,” he said and warned that the outbreak could worsen in the coming weeks without urgent intervention, emphasising that Aedes mosquitoes breed inside homes.
“Public awareness is crucial. Without community participation, there is no way out of this crisis. People must eliminate breeding sites, and city authorities must carry out larviciding and fogging campaigns consistently,” he said.
Mushtuq Husain, advisor to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), echoed those concerns, stressing that rainfall patterns continue to drive the outbreak.
“There has been no improvement in cleanliness. When rain stops and the sun comes out, mosquito eggs hatch. When it rains again, breeding sites increase. That’s why the outbreak can continue for up to two months after the rains stop,” he said.
He called for a nationwide cleanliness drive involving thousands of young volunteers, pointing to the successful elimination of malaria in Bangladesh through mass participation. “Kolkata has managed to control dengue. We can too, if the government gives it top priority. But around us, the cleaning simply isn’t happening,” he added.
The lack of coordination among government bodies is emerging as another barrier. On Sept 16, DGHS issued 12 directives to medical college and hospital authorities to improve patient management. At a subsequent press conference, DGHS Director General Abu Jafar said local government institutions must step up, as mosquito control is their mandate.
“Dengue control needs a fully coordinated approach. Unfortunately, the efforts of health services, local government, and city authorities are not always jointly organised,” he said.
DGHS Director (Hospitals and Clinics) Dr Abu Hossain Md Moinul Ahsan reinforced this point, saying, “The health department cannot and should not carry out cleaning activities outside hospitals. That is the job of the local government bodies. We have written to every city corporation and municipality, urging them to intensify mosquito control.”
As cases rise daily, experts warn that without urgent, coordinated action to destroy breeding sites, boost public awareness, and strengthen hospital preparedness, Bangladesh risks facing a repeat — or even a worsening — of last year’s deadly October peak.
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