As the spectre of another dengue outbreak looms over Bangladesh, the government’s failure to conduct its routine pre-monsoon survey has raised serious concerns among public health experts.
Despite the seasonal pattern of dengue outbreaks intensifying with the onset of warmer, humid weather, authorities have yet to take adequate preparatory steps, making experts fear an uncontrollable surge in cases starting in April.
Every year, Bangladesh’s Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) conducts three dengue-related surveys—pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon—to assess and mitigate the spread of Aedes mosquitoes, the primary vector of the disease.
However, this year, the government has yet to even commence the pre-monsoon survey, which should have been completed by now.
Additionally, the post-monsoon report for 2024, which would have provided crucial insights for preventive actions, also remains unfinished.
Experts have long warned that dengue transmission in Bangladesh follows a predictable pattern, with cases beginning to rise in April as heat and rainfall create an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes.
With intermittent rain already reported across the country by mid-March, specialists are cautioning that without immediate intervention, a severe outbreak is inevitable.
The country’s dengue response has been hampered by the political transition following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government last August.
Local government activities stalled in the aftermath of the upheaval, further slowing down dengue prevention efforts.
The arrival of winter provided temporary relief as mosquito activity declined, but as temperatures rise again, experts are warning of a resurgence.
Bangladesh recorded a staggering 101,214 dengue cases in 2024, with 575 confirmed deaths.
Data from last year indicate a familiar trend: cases surged from 504 in April to a peak of 30,879 in October, before tapering off in December.
If the current cycle continues—and without preventive action—the outbreak in 2025 could surpass previous records.
Dr Md Golam Sarwar, an entomologist at the National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM), highlighted the urgency of the situation: "Every year, dengue cases and fatalities are doubling due to the increasing density of Aedes mosquitoes. The lack of proactive government measures this year is deeply concerning. If we fail to act now, the consequences will be devastating."
Since the first recorded dengue case in Bangladesh in 2000, outbreaks were initially confined to Dhaka.
However, the 2019 epidemic marked a turning point as dengue spread across the country, with cases rising in rural areas year after year.
As of mid-March 2025, 1,161 cases were reported in January, 374 in February, and 262 in March.
So far, 13 people have died from dengue this year. Alarmingly, without aggressive intervention, these numbers are expected to rise dramatically as the monsoon season approaches.
With dengue season now extending beyond the monsoon and lasting nearly year-round, public health experts argue that the government must shift from reactive crisis management to a sustained, data-driven approach.
Despite mounting warnings, Local Government Division Secretary Mohammad Nizam Uddin downplayed the crisis, insisting that authorities were taking necessary steps: "We are holding meetings and issuing alerts to zonal authorities. But the public must also take responsibility—mosquitoes breed in clean water, yet people continue to store water improperly. Media awareness campaigns can play a key role in tackling this issue."
With dengue cases and fatalities increasing every year, Bangladesh stands at a critical juncture.
The failure to initiate preventive surveys and control efforts early in the season could turn 2025 into the worst dengue outbreak in the nation’s history.
As the monsoon approaches, the government must act decisively—before the crisis spirals out of control.
