Bangladesh is facing a critical dengue surge, with experts warning that August could triple July’s cases
Bangladesh is facing a critical dengue surge, with experts warning that August could triple July’s cases
Bangladesh is facing a sharp rise in dengue cases and fatalities, with health experts warning that August couldbring an even more severe outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease if urgent action is not taken.
Official data shows that dengue has killed 101 people and infected 24,183 so far this year, placing an immense strain on an already overstretched healthcare system. The recent spike is accompanied by a worrying jump in fatalities — 19 deaths have been recorded in just the first days of August, following 41 deaths in July, more than double June’s toll of 19.
“The situation is critical. The virus is already widespread across the country, and without aggressive intervention, hospitals will be overwhelmed,” said Kabirul Bashar, an entomologist at Jahangirnagar University.
Bashar warned that August could see three times as many cases as July, with numbers possibly peaking in September. Health officials are urging the public to take preventive measures, including using mosquito repellents, sleeping under nets, and eliminating stagnant water where Aedes mosquitoes — the carriers of the dengue virus — breed.
Experts point to climate change, coupled with warm, humid conditions and intermittent rainfall, as creating ideal breeding environments for the insects. While the capital, Dhaka, remains the primary hotspot, rural areas are now reporting large numbers of infections, stretching the limited capacity of local healthcare facilities to manage severe cases.
Medical professionals stress the importance of early treatment. Symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, vomiting, bleeding, or extreme fatigue should prompt immediate hospital visits to reduce the risk of complications or death.
Coordinated spraying, community clean-up drives, and heightened public awareness campaigns are being called for to curb the spread.
Bangladesh’s deadliest year on record for dengue was 2023, with 1,705 deaths and over 321,000 infections. With the peak season still ahead, experts say only a combined effort between government agencies and the public can prevent a repeat of last year’s devastating toll.
Easily access major global news with a strong focus on Africa. As well as the main stories of the day, we like to accentuate positive stories about Africa across all genres including Politics, Business, Commerce, Science, Sports, Arts & Culture, Showbiz and Fashion.
We broadcast 24 hours a day from our studios in London and New York and can be seen here in the UK and across Europe on the Sky platform (Sky channel 516), Freeview (Channel 136) as well as in the USA on the Centric channel and also on the Hot bird platform, which transmits to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.