16/06/2025
Dengue Fever in Dhaka: A Looming Health Crisis
🌧️ Seasonal Surge & Alarming Numbers
Dhaka experiences a steep rise in dengue cases during and immediately after the monsoon (June–September). As of mid‑June 2025, 5,988 confirmed cases have been reported nationwide, with Dhaka contributing a large share — often leading daily case counts .
This marks a troubling trend: monthly cases have doubled from March to May, and early June alone saw 1,643 hospitalizations . Although fatalities remain lower than hospitalizations, Dhaka hospitals are struggling with beds, staff, and overcrowding.
Climate Change & Urbanization: A Perfect Storm
Dhaka’s tropical wet–dry climate, with heavy monsoonal rains, creates ideal breeding grounds for the Aedes aegypti mosquito — the primary dengue carrier .
Coupled with rapid and unplanned urbanisation, poor drainage, frequent water‑logging, and high population density, conditions are ripe for dengue proliferation .
Shifting Geographic Patterns
Though Dhaka remains the epicentre, cases are rapidly spreading to nearby districts. Notably, transmission rates outside the capital have outpaced Dhaka’s in some recent months .
Dengue Symptoms & Disease Severity
Dengue manifests with high fever, headache, muscle/joint pain, rash, and mild bleeding .
While many recover within two weeks, dengue hemorrhagic fever and shock syndrome pose severe threats, especially during secondary infections .
Prevention: What Dhaka’s Citizens Can Do
Eliminate stagnant water: Empty flowerpots, buckets, tires; clean gutters regularly .
Protect from mosquito bites: Use repellents, wear long sleeves, and daytime bed nets—Aedes bite in daylight .
Community action: Local clean-up drives and fogging help—but must be sustained year-round .
Government collaboration: The One‑Health national plan emphasizes multisectoral coordination—health, environment, municipalities—to improve surveillance and response .
Beyond the Mosquito: Why Education Matters
Studies in Dhaka slums show that awareness programs significantly boost good practices—bed net use rose by 25 percentage points after targeted campaigns .
Ongoing community education, especially in dense urban neighborhoods, can dramatically reduce breeding sites and enhance early detection.
đź“Ł Call to Action: Turning the Tide on Dengue
1. Stay vigilant throughout the year, not just in monsoon months.
2. Practice daily source reduction—empty containers, cover water stores.
3. **Support and participate in community fogging and clean-up drives.**
4. Demand better urban planning—improved drainage and infrastructure.
5. Strengthen multisectoral collaboration, following WHO’s One‑Health recommendations .
By combining individual vigilance, community effort, and government leadership, Dhaka — and Bangladesh — can mitigate the impacts of dengue. It’s a fight we can win—if we work together.
Photo: The daily star
