Over 60% of dengue patients in Dhaka now come from outside the capital, overwhelming city hospitals; entomologists warn of wider outbreak risks across districts.
Hospitals in Dhaka are facing overwhelming pressure as a rising number of dengue patients from outside the capital seek treatment amid a worsening outbreak in Bangladesh. Medical data reveals that more than 60% of dengue admissions in city hospitals are now from districts such as Cumilla, Jhenaidah, and Magura, where healthcare infrastructure and dengue surveillance remain inadequate.
Key medical centers such as Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), Mugda Medical College Hospital, and the DNCC Dedicated COVID-19 Hospital in Mohakhali have reported being inundated with dengue cases, many of which are referrals from rural hospitals. These patients often arrive in critical condition, requiring dialysis or intensive care after developing complications such as dengue hemorrhagic fever or shock syndrome.
Dr. Mohammad Niatuzzaman, director of the Mugda hospital, confirmed that â60 to 70 percent of our dengue patients are now from outside Dhaka.â The situation is especially dire for patients with comorbidities like diabetes or heart disease, which further complicate treatment and recovery.
A recent survey by the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) exposed dangerously high mosquito larval density in several districts. The Breteau Index (BI) â which measures the number of positive containers per 100 houses â revealed alarming figures:
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Jhenaidah: 60
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Magura: 55.5
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Pirojpur: 20
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Patuakhali: 19.3
A BI score above 20 signals a high risk for dengue outbreaks, and in Jhenaidah and Magura, the current readings far exceed that threshold. In Jhenaidah, a resident from Harinakundu upazila recently became the districtâs first dengue fatality this year. Magura has already reported over a dozen confirmed cases this month alone.
Despite these numbers, health authorities say most district-level facilities lack essential diagnostic tools and trained personnel. Entomologists and public health experts warn that without urgent intervention, the outbreak could spiral out of control.
Entomologist GM Saifur Rahman stressed the need to make dengue a ânotifiable diseaseâ, which would mandate reporting and allow early tracking and resource mobilization. âWe must investigate infection sources and involve entomologists in the response framework,â he said. He also emphasized the importance of public awareness, routine surveillance, and integrated vector control strategies across all districts.
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) claims that it is monitoring the situation closely and has already dispatched test kits and IV fluids to high-risk districts such as Barguna, which reported 1,406 cases as of last weekâmore than any other district in the country.
According to DGHS data from January 1 to May 25, 2025, Bangladesh has recorded 3,972 confirmed dengue cases and 23 deaths, compared to 2,853 cases and 41 deaths during the same period in 2024. Notably, more than 95% of new dengue admissions are occurring outside Dhaka, indicating a significant geographic shift in the epidemicâs impact.
One alarming statistic from the DGHS: on a single day, 288 patients were admitted, with 276 of them coming from outside Dhakaâthe highest single-day out-of-town admission rate so far this year.
Experts believe that many rural areas are particularly vulnerable because their populations have not previously been exposed to dengue, making them âimmunologically naive.â Low levels of public health education, poor sanitation, and insufficient mosquito control efforts contribute to the rapid spread of the virus.
The current crisis has prompted a call for a national emergency response, including mosquito control campaigns, media-led public awareness efforts, and coordination between local and central health authorities. Without such measures, the outbreak may worsen, particularly with the monsoon season loomingâa time when mosquito breeding intensifies.
While Dhaka hospitals remain the epicenter for treatment, itâs clear that the battle against dengue must now be fought across the entire country. If not contained swiftly, Bangladesh risks facing one of its worst dengue outbreaks in recent years, with both urban and rural populations at risk
source: the daily star
