Dhaka hospitals overwhelmed as dengue outbreak spirals out of control

Dhaka's healthcare system is buckling under the strain of a dengue surge that has left hospitals critically overcrowded. Medical facilities across the city are accommodating patients in unconventional spaces, including floors and verandas, as dedicated dengue wards reach capacity. In a single 24-hour period, more than 747 new dengue patients were admitted across the country, underscoring the scale of the public health emergency.

August marked the worst month of the dengue season so far, with authorities recording over 20,000 confirmed infections. The spike has coincided with the monsoon season, when conditions favour mosquito breeding and transmission of the virus. Healthcare officials have expressed alarm at the trajectory of cases, which show no signs of abating in the near term.

Public health experts have sounded warnings that October could see conditions deteriorate further, intensifying pressure on already stretched hospital resources. Authorities are calling for heightened preparedness measures ahead of what is forecast to be a critical period for disease control.

Medical officials have reiterated that long-term management of the dengue crisis depends on sustained efforts to eliminate mosquito breeding sites. Destroying stagnant water sources and implementing neighbourhood-level sanitation drives remain the most effective strategies for curtailing transmission, experts say.