Two More Dengue Deaths in 24 Hours, 730 Hospitalized in Bangladesh

In the last 24 hours, two more people have died from the mosquito-borne dengue disease. With this, the total death toll from dengue this year has reached 67. During the same period, 730 new patients were admitted to hospitals with dengue. This information was revealed in the regular dengue report of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Saturday (August 15).

 

According to the DGHS, both of the deceased in the last 24 hours were residents of the Khulna division. Meanwhile, the highest number of dengue patients—374—were hospitalized in the Dhaka division. Additionally, in the last 24 hours, 123 people were hospitalized in the Khulna division, 107 in Barishal, 89 in Chattogram, 27 in Mymensingh, and 10 in the Rangpur division. In total, from January 1 to Saturday, 67 people have died of dengue. Of these, 30 people died in the Dhaka division alone, which includes the two city corporations.

 

Besides, during this period, apart from 15 deaths in the Khulna division, 8 died in Barishal, 6 in Mymensingh, 5 in Chattogram, and one each in the Rajshahi, Rangpur, and Sylhet divisions, making it a total of three deaths.

 

Doctors Advise Dengue Testing in Case of Fever

Specialist doctors have advised people to visit the nearest hospital and get tested for dengue if they experience a fever for one to two days. They also recommended that if a dengue infection is detected in the test, patients should consult a doctor instead of staying at home. Speaking with specialists, it is evident that the number of dengue patients is increasing across the country, including the capital. A significant portion of the infected are children. This year, school-going children are particularly vulnerable. Therefore, if a fever occurs, dengue testing should be done without delay, and medical advice should be sought as needed.

 

The DGHS has also requested the public to get tested for dengue at the nearest hospital as soon as they develop a fever. Relevant officials informed that the government has made the NS-1 test completely free in all government hospitals until December 31, and reduced the fee for other dengue tests from 300 BDT to only 50 BDT.

 

According to DGHS data, up to August 8 this year, 18,673 people have been hospitalized with dengue, and 59 have died. Among the infected, 61.5% are male and 38.5% are female. Among those affected, 10,827 are between the ages of 0 and 30; 25 people in this age bracket have died (22 males and 37 females). So far this year, 26 deaths have occurred in the Dhaka division alone.

Health Minister Advises Wearing Lungi and Pajamas to Combat Dengue

To combat dengue, awareness is being raised nationwide, advising people to sleep under mosquito nets and wear full-sleeve shirts, pajamas, and long lungis, according to Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain. He stated this on Wednesday (July 15) in the National Parliament in response to an urgent public importance notice raised by Md. Nurul Islam, Member of Parliament for Chapainawabganj-3.

 

The Health Minister said, "Since taking office, we have been keeping a close watch on this matter and are constantly trying to maintain cleanliness. We are spraying; we are spreading larva-killing tablets. We are raising public awareness nationwide to sleep under mosquito nets, wear full-sleeve shirts, wear pajamas, or wear long lungis."

 

He further added, "We have taken all necessary measures to prevent dengue nationwide. I also want to mention that we have an unprecedented stock of reagents for dengue testing, something no previous government was able to maintain. We have provided an adequate supply of these kits at the field level, and we have ample stock in the central godown."

 

Stating that the government has taken comprehensive preparations to control the dengue situation, he noted that instructions have been issued to reserve 10% of beds for dengue patients in private hospitals, alongside government hospitals. Furthermore, the dengue test fee has been reduced to 50 BDT, and adequate kits and saline are stockpiled. Presenting statistics in parliament, the Health Minister stated that from January to June 2024, 8,978 people were infected with dengue, and 28 died. In contrast, last year (calculated up to July 2025), 15,210 people were infected and 58 died.

 

Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain informed that for the convenience of the general public, the dengue NS1 test is being conducted free of charge at government hospitals. Additionally, the fee for IgG and IgM tests has been reduced from 300 BDT to just 50 BDT. Currently, there is a stock of 106,600 kits in the central medical store, and another 500,000 kits will be added next month. A special reserve of 100,000 extra saline bags has also been kept.

 

Regarding private hospitals, the minister said that a meeting was held with the owners of private medical colleges and hospitals a month and a half ago. They were instructed to keep 10% of their total beds vacant for dengue patients and agreed to conduct tests at government rates.

 

If the dengue situation worsens severely, mobile hospitals are kept ready to manage the crisis, and preparations are in place to deploy the army if necessary, the Health Minister noted. He also mentioned that ICU facilities are being expanded at the district level. Already, 10-bed ICUs have been launched in 12 districts, and 5 more districts will have them within the next 15 days. Stressing the mosquito eradication efforts of city corporations and municipalities, Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain requested Members of Parliament to conduct cleanliness drives in their respective areas. He remarked, "Mosquitoes are very small insects. In a densely populated country like ours, water accumulates everywhere. Mosquito control workers are often barred from entering houses. The general public must be aware."

 

‘Dengue corners’ have been launched in Upazila health complexes, doctors and nurses are receiving training, field hospitals are prepared, reagents and testing kits have been procured, and an adequate stock of essential medicines and oral saline has been ensured. Taking early preparations to combat this mosquito-borne disease, seven city corporations, including the Dhaka North and South City Corporations, have hit the field. They are executing separate programs to tackle the risks of dengue and chikungunya in their areas.

 

This year, for the first time, the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) conducted a ‘Pre-Monsoon Aedes Mosquito Larva Survey’ under its own management. Meanwhile, the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has launched a unique, music-based promotional campaign to boost public awareness about dengue prevention. Regarding the government's preparedness, Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain told the media that the government has taken all-out measures.

 

The Health Minister stated that private hospitals have been directed to reserve at least 10% of their beds for dengue patients. At the same time, doctors have been urged not to charge visit fees from dengue patients. A request has also been made to provide up to an 80% discount on various diagnostic tests. He noted that the government currently holds a stock of about 200,000 bags of oral saline and is taking steps to increase this reserve further.

 

On Saturday (June 6), a nationwide awareness rally was held to prevent dengue. On the same day, the Health Minister inaugurated a three-month-long special cleanliness and public awareness campaign initiated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Starting from Rabindra Sarobar in the capital, this program is being rolled out at the district and Upazila levels.

 

A five-day special ‘Crash Program’ has been launched in high-risk wards, jointly implemented by the Health Department and the Waste Management Department. This initiative includes destroying mosquito breeding grounds, exterminating larvae, conducting cleanliness drives, removing waste, running public awareness campaigns, and maintaining intensive surveillance in high-risk areas.

 

State Minister for Health Dr. M. A. Muhit stated that if every citizen takes dengue prevention as a personal responsibility, the situation can largely be controlled. He announced a special three-month program aimed at raising public awareness. Its primary goal is to intensify cleanliness activities, destroy Aedes mosquito breeding sites, and turn dengue prevention into a social movement through public engagement. Mentioning the initiative to involve religious leaders, the State Minister said that awareness messages on cleanliness and dengue prevention will be delivered by Imams during Friday prayers.

 

Stakeholders believe that with the government's advance preparations, the coordinated initiatives of city corporations, and the active participation of citizens, the spread of dengue and chikungunya can be kept well under control this season.

Free Treatment for Dengue Patients: Health Minister

Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain has announced that dengue patients will receive free treatment. He shared this with journalists on Tuesday (June 2) following a meeting at the Secretariat concerning dengue prevention, treatment, and guidelines.

 

The Health Minister stated that 10% of beds in private medical colleges will be kept vacant for dengue patients. The beds and treatment will be provided completely free of charge, and private hospital authorities will cover 80% of the cost for various health investigations. However, the patient will have to bear the cost of food and medicine. Regarding prevention, he said, "We will make our utmost efforts nationwide to control mosquitoes. We will take steps to ensure that mosquito breeding does not increase. Spraying will be done on both land and water. We will use a tablet that kills larvae; we will collect these in large quantities and drop them into water bodies, drains, puddles, and stagnant water."

 

Adding a point regarding the City Corporations, he said, "There are many abandoned washrooms that contain commodes where water accumulates. Thousands of mosquitoes breed and fly out of there in the evenings. These abandoned washrooms must be located, and we need to spray inside them and drop tablets or spray in the water—this must be kept in mind. Similar attention should be given to garages. Special chemicals will be used to destroy mosquito larvae."

 

Mobile courts will be strictly operated across the country to control dengue. If the roof or surroundings of anyone's house are found unkempt and mosquito larvae are discovered, they will be fined through mobile courts.

 

Noting that "We have already received a donation of one lakh fluids," the minister instructed, "You must keep an adequate stock of fluids in your hospitals. Within the next three days, you must provide us with an account of how many beds you have in which hospital—specifically our 10 percent—and what fluid stock you have to fight dengue. You must also inform us how much more you plan to collect. Do not treat my words as an order. We are seeking your cooperation to assist distressed people. That call for cooperation borders on a directive, but don't treat it as an instruction—it is a request, a humble request to you."

 

The Health Minister emphasized, "You need to increase your stock of saline and inform us of its status and the number of beds within the next three days. The responsibility we are shouldering is not just the governments. If we (the government) fail, you also fail, the country fails. Therefore, this is a shared responsibility."

Government Prepared to Combat Dengue

"Dengue patients are being identified in ones and twos. Since this is the season for dengue, we do not want to waste time. We are taking comprehensive preparations to tackle the disease," said Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain.

 

The Health Ministry held a meeting to strategize actions in case dengue cases surge. The meeting took place on Monday (June 1) in the ministry's conference room, chaired by Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain. Attendees included State Minister Dr. M.A. Muhit, Additional Secretary ATM Saiful Islam, DGHS Director General Prof. Dr. Provat Chandra Biswas, Additional Director General Prof. Dr. Jahid Raihan, Director (Disease Control) Halimur Rashid, Director (Hospital) AHM Moinul Ahsan, and leaders from the Society of Medicine.

 

The Health Minister announced that the Society of Medicine will provide detailed training, including treatment plans. "Work begins tomorrow. Training will be conducted nationwide. Some reagents and saline are currently in stock, and we have decided to procure other necessary items. Essentially, we have completed our preliminary preparations."

 

When asked about tackling the root causes of dengue, the minister replied, "We will sit with the city corporations regarding this issue. They will work on it."

Dengue Tests Free in All Govt Hospitals till Dec 31

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has mandated that NS1 tests for dengue diagnosis be conducted free of charge in government hospitals until December 31. This directive was outlined in a notice signed on Sunday (July 5) by Kazi Sharif Uddin Ahmed, Deputy Secretary of the Government Health Management-1 Branch under the Health Services Division. The notice formally requested the necessary steps to make NS1 tests free at government hospitals until December 31, 2026.

 

The Ministry forwarded this directive to the directors of medical college hospitals, civil surgeons, Upazila health and family planning officers, and all other relevant authorities nationwide for their information and execution.

 

The Health Minister confirmed that dengue NS1 testing kits have been distributed at the police station, Upazila, and district levels. Furthermore, hospitals in Dhaka and other major cities have been prepped and will be fully activated if patient numbers rise. Emphasizing public awareness, he urged everyone, from the union level down to mosque Imams, to keep their environments clean.

 

In Bangladesh, the severity of dengue typically spikes during June, July, August, and September due to heavy rainfall. Moreover, unable to handle the excess water pressure, neighboring India often opens its river dams during this time. This combination results in a high water volume in Bangladesh’s environment and increased average rainfall. The rainwater accumulates in drains, abandoned ponds, coconut shells, and plastic waste, creating ideal breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes. The rain also leads to dense vegetation growth in abandoned rural areas, which serves as habitats for various mosquitoes. Consequently, waterborne diseases become highly prevalent. Beyond medical treatment, destroying breeding grounds and ensuring a clean environment remain the most effective strategies for controlling dengue.

 

Highlighting special precautions in dengue treatment, Minister for Health and Family Welfare Sakhawat Hossain Bakul pointed out that patients often succumb to plasma leakage. To address this, a 'Daily Treatment Protocol' has been drafted in coordination with specialist doctors and distributed via the mobile phones and websites of all physicians. Hospitals have been explicitly instructed that even if a dengue patient's fever drops, they must not be discharged until they are completely stabilized and cleared of danger.

 

During the event, the Health Minister also revealed that after 25 years, a state-of-the-art ten-headed microscope has been installed at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, which will make cancer detection significantly more accurate and effective. He also shared that initiatives are underway to reform the medical curriculum to align medical education with international standards.

 

However, criticism remains regarding the Pathology Department, which is the foundational pillar of medical treatment. After a government microscope broke down three years ago, no further budget was allocated. This raises the question: how will hospitals in Bangladesh manage to operate as modern, one-stop emergency facilities modeled after institutions like Thailand's Bumrungrad or Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital?