JAKARTA - Bangladesh has experienced a spike in cases and deaths from dengue fever. Health experts warn that in August it could bring an outbreak of mosquito-borne disease even worse if immediate action is not taken.
Dengue fever resulted in the death of 101 people and infected 24,183 people so far this year, according to official data, which puts heavy pressure on the country's already overwhelmed health care system.
"The situation is critical. This virus has spread widely across the country, and without aggressive intervention, hospitals will be overwhelmed," said Kabirul Bashar, an entomologist at Garjargingar University.
"August could record at least three times the number of cases compared to July, with its potential peak in September."
Health officials urge the public to use anti-candy drugs, sleep with nets, and clean puddles of water where mosquitoes breed.
"We need coordinated spraying and community cleaning activities, especially in high-risk zones," Bashar said.
Experts say climate change, coupled with warm and humid weather, as well as periodic rain, has created ideal breeding conditions for the Aedes mosquito, the carrier of the dengue virus.
Although Dhaka is still the main source of spread, dengue hemorrhagic fever is peaking across the country. A large number of infections were reported from outside the capital, adding to pressure on health facilities in rural areas with limited capacity to deal with severe cases.
Doctors warn early medical attention is critical. Severe stomach pain, vomiting, bleeding, or extreme fatigue must be immediately taken to hospital to reduce the risk of complications or death.
With the peak of the season of dengue fever still coming, health experts emphasize that community participation, in addition to government-led mosquito control, will be critical in preventing what could be one of the worst outbreaks in Bangladesh in recent years.
The deadliest year recorded was 2023, with 1,705 deaths and more than 321,000 infections reported.
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