Bangladesh Braces for Dengue Spike as Monsoon Conditions Intensify Outbreak Risk

Dhaka-angladesh could see a sharp rise in dengue infections over the next two months as monsoon weather and inadequate mosquito control create favorable conditions for the spread of the disease, health experts warned on Wednesday.

Health Ministry data showed dengue-related deaths increased from one at the end of May to 18 by the end of June, while reported infections surged more than eightfold over the same period, rising from 714 cases to 5,924.

Professor Kabirul Bashar, an entomologist at Jahangirnagar University, said dengue cases in Dhaka were expected to at least double in July compared with June and could increase three- to fourfold by August.

Bashar warned that districts outside the capital could experience an even steeper rise in infections, with several regions facing heightened risk as the outbreak expands.

Bangladesh experienced its deadliest dengue outbreak in 2023, when more than 321,000 people were infected and 1,705 died. Official data show the country recorded 101,214 infections and 575 deaths in 2024, followed by 102,861 cases and 413 fatalities last year.

The dengue threat comes as Bangladesh is also confronting one of its most severe measles outbreaks in decades. Since mid-March, authorities have reported more than 100,000 suspected cases, over 10,000 confirmed infections and more than 700 deaths, placing additional strain on the country’s healthcare system.

Heavy rainfall, high humidity and warm temperatures have accelerated mosquito breeding, while vector-control measures have failed to keep pace with the growing public health challenge, Bashar said.

He urged the government to establish a nationwide early warning system to identify mosquito breeding sites and emerging transmission hotspots, allowing authorities to respond more rapidly and alert communities before outbreaks intensify.

“The window to contain the outbreak is narrowing,” Bashar said.