The country is now suffering from a double whammy. With the measles scourge taking a heavy toll on children, dengue has reared its head across the country after the onset of the monsoon, which creates breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes that spread the dengue virus.
Until Monday, the dengue death toll had risen to six, with the cumulative number of infected cases reaching 3,307. Health experts have already sounded the alarm that the dengue menace may take a serious turn like this year's measles outbreak if adequate preventive measures are not taken immediately.
If not, the country is likely to witness similar perils it suffered last year. As per data from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), a total of 102,861 dengue cases and 413 dengue-related deaths were recorded in 2025, while in 2024, there were 101,214 dengue infections and 575 deaths from the mosquito-borne disease.
This is why the government has already undertaken comprehensive preparations to combat dengue, as disclosed by Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain at a dengue preparedness meeting, saying that dedicated dengue corners are being established at upazila health complexes across the country. A field hospital has also been kept ready on the premises of Dhaka Medical College Hospital to provide treatment to dengue patients. Similar field hospitals may be set up in other parts of the country if necessary.
But as part of the preparations, mosquito-control drives are not significantly visible in urban areas, including major cities like Dhaka, where rapid urbanisation, poor waste management and stagnant water at construction sites and on rooftops are fairly common even after light rainfall. Experts fear that without stronger preventive measures, such deadly cycles will continue.
However, there are some other reasons for the spread of dengue. According to entomologists, changing weather patterns are a major factor behind its repeated outbreaks. For instance, the monsoon is now lasting longer than usual, creating standing water almost everywhere, which has intensified the dengue menace. Another reason is people's apathy towards dengue, as many still believe it to be a city-centric problem, making them more vulnerable to the mosquito-borne disease. As a result, dengue now spreads to rural areas.
Alongside dengue, measles has already wreaked havoc across the country, with fatalities from this preventable disease and its suspected symptoms reaching nearly 600 since the government began keeping records on March 15. Besides, at least 81,000 others have been infected so far this year.
What is worrying is that measles has still shown no signs of abating despite massive vaccination programmes conducted across the country. For instance, on Monday, at least three more children died and 1,379 others were infected with measles-like symptoms.
We call on the government authorities not to let dengue take a turn for the worse like measles, which has claimed the lives of children due to the interim government's failure to procure vaccines.
