Dengue Outbreak in Bangladesh: Rising Cases and Fatalities

Dengue Crisis in Bangladesh

Dhaka, August 8: Bangladesh is currently facing a severe dengue outbreak, with local reports indicating that the disease has claimed at least 59 lives and resulted in 17,880 confirmed cases this year, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Data from DGHS reveals that the Dhaka division is the most affected area, reporting 6,871 cases, including 4,404 in Dhaka city alone.

Following Dhaka, Barishal division has recorded 3,647 cases, while Chattogram and Khulna reported 3,082 and 2,272 cases, respectively.

In terms of fatalities, Dhaka division leads with 26 deaths, 25 of which occurred in Dhaka city. Khulna follows with 12 deaths, and Chattogram and Mymensingh reported seven and six deaths, respectively, as noted by a leading newspaper.

Dengue, a viral disease transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, poses a significant public health threat in Bangladesh.

GM Saifur Rahman, an Associate Professor in Zoology at the National University of Bangladesh, attributes the alarming figures to Dhaka's high population density, ongoing mosquito breeding, and insufficient vector control efforts.

The combination of dense population, warm weather, and plentiful breeding sites creates ideal conditions for both the Aedes mosquitoes and the dengue virus to thrive throughout the year, making Dhaka a major hotspot for dengue.

Saifur highlighted the prevalence of mosquito breeding sites, stating, “Recently, while overseeing an exam at Central Metropolitan Women’s College, I discovered Aedes mosquito larvae in a small water container. Such breeding grounds are widespread in the city, indicating continuous reproduction of Aedes mosquitoes in residential areas.”

He emphasized that mosquito control strategies have been largely reactive rather than proactive, suggesting that intensified control measures should be implemented during periods of low dengue transmission when breeding sites are fewer, allowing for more effective interventions. However, current efforts typically ramp up only after the onset of the dengue season, by which time cases are already on the rise.

Saifur criticized the lack of a centralized mosquito control system in Bangladesh, calling for the establishment of a national authority staffed with expert entomologists to oversee and coordinate vector control measures across the country.

“Without a coordinated national control system, the number of dengue cases is likely to keep increasing,” he cautioned.

Kabirul Bashar, a Professor in the Zoology Department at Jahangirnagar University, warned that dengue infections are anticipated to rise through August and may continue into September.

“The peak may not happen in August; it’s possible that this year’s peak will occur in September. We can expect the upward trend to persist through August and into September,” he stated.