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Bangladesh is grappling with a severe public health emergency as cases of dengue and chikungunya surge concurrently. As of early September 2025, the country has reported over 33,800 dengue cases and
132 deaths
this year. The first week of September alone saw at least 10 deaths and more than
1,500 hospital admissions
due to fever.
Chikungunya
, which had been absent for years, has made a significant return. Between January and July, four Dhaka-based laboratories confirmed 785 cases, with detection rates exceeding 30% in some facilities. In Chittagong, officials reported 30 new cases in just 24 hours, bringing the city's total to nearly 3,000 cases this year.
Hospitals, particularly the
Dhaka Medical College Hospital
, are overwhelmed, operating at more than triple their intended capacity. Experts attribute the crisis to the rapid adaptation of the Aedes mosquito to urban environments, where stagnant water in construction sites, rooftops, and flower pots serve as breeding grounds.
The WHO has identified
dengue
as one of the fastest-growing global health threats, exacerbated by climate change and urbanization. Health professionals emphasize the need for early recognition of warning signs, such as abdominal pain, vomiting, bleeding, or reduced urination, and caution against the misuse of NSAIDs or steroids in viral fevers.
To mitigate the situation, experts call for intensified mosquito control measures, expanded testing capabilities, and year-round eradication efforts to prevent future outbreaks.
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