Dhaka, Aug 25 (V7N) – A surge in dengue cases is likely next month as persistent rain and high humidity provide ideal breeding conditions for Aedes mosquitoes, according to a forecast report presented at a high-level coordination meeting on Sunday.

The report was shared during the “Dengue and Chikungunya Dialogue: August 2025 – Prevention, Preparedness, and Mitigation” held at the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) conference room in Gulshan. Experts warned that based on current rainfall and previous seasonal patterns, the number of dengue infections could sharply increase in September.

While transmission may decline after the monsoon ends in October, a secondary outbreak remains possible if control efforts are not sustained. Health professionals emphasized the need to intensify larviciding operations and improve sanitation even during periods of lower risk.

Challenges in Mosquito Control:
The report highlighted major obstacles in effective mosquito control, including lack of public awareness, improper application of insecticides, and limited governmental efforts. Unplanned urbanization, poor drainage systems, and weather shifts are contributing to unchecked mosquito proliferation. Coordination failures between institutions and an overreliance on fogging are also exacerbating the crisis.

Recommendations:
Several preventive measures were proposed, including daily larva-killing operations in high-risk zones, public awareness campaigns through SMS, social and local media, and stricter legal enforcement to penalize water stagnation and improper waste disposal.

The report also called for weekly cleanliness drives involving residents and students, enhanced coordination with agencies such as RAJUK, Civil Aviation, and the Cantonment Board, and the introduction of digital reporting systems for rapid response in outbreak zones.

Hospitals and clinics were urged to prepare designated dengue wards with sufficient medical supplies, trained personnel, and efficient triage systems in line with national guidelines.

Officials Respond:
DNCC Administrator Mohammad Ejaz, addressing a press briefing after the session, stressed that dengue control requires a collaborative approach. He emphasized the importance of waste management alongside mosquito eradication efforts. “We are taking the upcoming dengue wave seriously and enhancing monitoring efforts. While challenges remain, we are working towards steady improvement,” he said.

Child Death Highlights Ongoing Risk:
Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) reported another dengue-related death within the last 24 hours—a 10-year-old child from Satkania, Chattogram, who was undergoing treatment at Chattogram Medical College Hospital. This brings the total number of dengue deaths this year to 115, including 19 under the age of 20.

A total of 430 new hospitalizations were recorded in the past day, pushing the total number of hospitalized cases in 2025 to 28,632. As of now, 1,281 patients remain admitted across the country—414 in Dhaka and 867 in other districts.

Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and take preventive steps to combat the disease before the situation worsens.

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