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Bangladesh’s dengue outbreak is intensifying, with five more people dying and 839 new patients hospitalised in the past 24 hours, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The latest figures, released on Sunday (23 August), pushed the country’s dengue death toll this year to 82, while total hospital admissions rose to 28,929. So far, 26,897 patients have recovered and been discharged.
The latest surge was reported across almost every region of the country, highlighting the widening spread of the mosquito-borne disease beyond the capital.
Khulna recorded the highest number of new hospital admissions, with 159 patients, followed by 135 in Dhaka division outside the city corporations, 117 in Barishal and 100 in Chattogram.
Dhaka North and South city corporations recorded 61 and 91 new admissions respectively. Mymensingh reported 79 cases, Rajshahi 71, Rangpur 23 and Sylhet three.
The sharp rise in cases has raised fresh concerns over the pressure on hospitals as the monsoon season continues. Recent data show that dengue infections have accelerated significantly in August, with thousands of cases being recorded within just a few weeks.
The outbreak is also becoming increasingly widespread geographically. While dengue has historically been associated strongly with Dhaka, recent figures show substantial numbers of patients being admitted from divisions and districts outside the capital.
The latest five deaths further underline the severity of the outbreak. Health authorities and hospitals are continuing to treat a growing number of patients as the disease spreads during the peak mosquito-breeding season.
With more than 28,000 hospitalised cases and 82 deaths already recorded this year, the latest figures underscore the need for stronger mosquito-control measures, elimination of breeding sites and greater public awareness to contain the spread of dengue.
