Dengue claimed 36 lives in July alone, accounting for two-thirds of the 54 deaths recorded so far this year, as health experts warned that daily infections could double in early August and the outbreak may persist until October due to prolonged monsoon rains.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 9,206 people were infected with the mosquito-borne disease in July, taking the total number of confirmed cases this year to 15,310.
Although the July toll remained well below the 83 deaths and more than 20,000 infections recorded in the same month last year, entomologists said uninterrupted rainfall throughout June and July has created favourable breeding conditions for mosquitoes, raising the likelihood of dengue infections doubling in the first week of August.
According to the Met office, Dhaka experienced rainfall on more than 20 days in July, while many other parts of the country also saw frequent downpours.
Experts told the Financial Express that the prolonged rainfall is likely to cause waterlogging, and coupled with poor sanitation, will create ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes, accelerating the spread of dengue and increasing the risk of fatalities.
As many as 14 dengue patients died this week through Friday, including one death reported on Friday. The DGHS also reported 153 new hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.
Prof. Kabirul Bashar, a medical entomologist at Jahangirnagar University, said daily infections could exceed 1,000 in the first week of August.
"The prolonged rainfall has created ideal conditions for dengue transmission, and the impact is likely to continue until October because of the lag effect of July's rains," he said.
He explained that stagnant water in residential areas and under-construction buildings provides breeding grounds for mosquitoes, while it takes around eight weeks for larvae to develop into adult mosquitoes.
Despite the expected rise in infections, Prof. Bashar said most dengue deaths are preventable with timely diagnosis and proper treatment, except in patients with severe underlying illnesses.
He urged people to seek medical attention early and follow treatment protocols, including adequate fluid and oral saline intake, particularly if patients experience vomiting.
While praising the government's preparedness in hospitals and mosquito-control initiatives, he stressed that stronger community participation is essential to bring the outbreak under control.
Epidemiologist Dr. Mushtaq Husain said climate change and environmental pollution have contributed to the increasing prevalence of mosquito-borne diseases across South Asia, including Bangladesh. He said the unclean environment across the country, particularly in Dhaka, is contributing to the spread of dengue.
Dr. Husain called for sustained community engagement and a three- to four-year action plan to improve mosquito control and reduce future outbreaks.
He also stressed the need to expand intensive care facilities at community level hospitals and strengthen the tertiary hospitals.
Many low-income patients delay seeking treatment until their condition becomes critical. Affordable diagnosis and treatment at the primary and secondary healthcare facilities are essential to reducing dengue deaths, he said.
Bangladesh continues to record one of the highest dengue fatality rates in the region, largely due to weaknesses in disease management despite having adequate hospital capacity, he added.
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