Dengue infections and fatalities are rising sharply again in Bangladesh, with experts warning that the fresh surge may continue for weeks amid persisting monsoon rains.
At least 27 people died and 6,019 others were hospitalised with the mosquito-borne viral fever in the past 15 days 鈥� nearly double the number from the previous two weeks combined, according to the Directorate General of Health Services.
In the first 12 days of September alone, dengue claimed 23 lives and led to 5,451 hospitalisations across the country.
DGHS data show that in the current epidemiological week (Week 37, starting September 6), 13 people died聽 and 3,096 were hospitalised with dengue, compared with 2,290 hospitalisations and four deaths in Week 35.
Entomologists said that the trend indicated a fresh spike in dengue cases, driven by rain and favourable temperatures for mosquito breeding.
鈥楴ow it is raining at regular intervals under moderate temperature, which is the most suitable condition聽 for mosquito population growth,鈥� said AM Zakir Hussain, an epidemiologist and former director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research.
He noted that the average temperature in Bangladesh 鈥� around 27C 鈥� combined with fresh rainwater stagnation is allowing Aedes mosquitoes to hatch in large numbers and survive longer.
鈥楧engue usually peaks in July, but this year rain has continued into September. We fear that dengue cases will not come under control immediately. Numbers may only begin to fall slowly from October,鈥� he warned.
Dhaka South City Corporation鈥檚 acting chief health officer Dr Nishat Parveen said that dengue cases in the capital were still climbing despite intensified control efforts.
She said that the city corporation was doing its best with its prevailing facilities.
She emphasised the need for proper treatment and public awareness to reduce mosquito bites.
Golam Sarwar, a professor of entomology at the National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine, questioned the effectiveness of the insecticides being used by city authorities, urging testing them for both efficacy and environmental impact.
On Friday, the DGHS recorded 245 new hospital admissions, raising the total number of dengue patients this year to 36,927. A day earlier, the country reported its deadliest single day of 2025, with six fatalities, bringing the year鈥檚 death toll to 145.
Monthly breakdowns show a steep rise this year: 1,161 hospitalisations in January, 374 in February, 336 in March, 701 in April, 1,773 in May, 5,951 in June, 10,684 in July, and 10,496 in August.
Fatalities followed a similar climb: 10 in January, three in February, seven in April, three in May, 19 in June, 41 in July, and 39 in August.
Bangladesh has faced recurring dengue outbreaks since its first official appearance in 2000, when 93 people died and 5,551 were hospitalised.
The situation has worsened in recent years: dengue claimed 1,705 lives and led to 321,179 hospitalisations in 2023 alone, compared with 853 deaths and 244,246 hospitalisations in the entire period between 2000 and 2022.
Past year, the country suffered another severe wave, with 575 deaths and 101,214 reported cases.
Public health experts now fear that Bangladesh is entering another prolonged season of high dengue transmission, driven by climate variability, urban crowding, and weak mosquito-control measures.
