{
  "id": 28262,
  "title": "Dengue deaths, cases surge in July",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/07/31/dengue-deaths-cases-surge-in-july",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-07-31T18:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Star BD Health",
    "slug": "daily-star-bd-health",
    "url": "https://www.thedailystar.net/health/disease/news/dengue-deaths-cases-surge-july-4237366"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dengue infections and fatalities surged in July, prompting concerns about a potential escalation in the coming months if the government does not implement a nationwide mosquito control plan. As of the latest data, 54 deaths and 15,310 hospitalizations have been reported this year, with 36 of the fatalities occurring in July alone, a significant increase from the 13 reported in June. The number of dengue cases also rose sharply, with 9,206 infections recorded in July compared to 2,903 in June.\n\nBangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute saw a notable rise in dengue admissions in July, with 45 patients admitted, up from 25 in June. As of July 30, 13 patients were receiving treatment at the hospital, and a total of 118 dengue admissions have been made this year. The hospital has not yet established a dedicated dengue ward due to the manageable patient load, according to a physician who spoke to the report.\n\nEntomologist Kabirul Bashar cautioned that dengue cases are expected to continue their upward trajectory through August and may persist into September. Daily reported cases have been fluctuating between 400 and 550, potentially reaching around 800 from early August. Bashar suggested that the peak may not occur in August but could come in September, based on recent trends. Although heavy rains have temporarily lowered mosquito density in the capital, the situation is not expected to remain stable, as the Breteau Index, a measure of mosquito density, has been slightly lower than usual due to the rainfall. Once the rains decrease, mosquito breeding is anticipated to rise again, according to Bashar.\n\nThe government's primary focus should be on source reduction and managing breeding sites, emphasized Bashar. He stressed that the main strategy involves eliminating mosquito breeding sites. Where eradication is not feasible, long-lasting insecticides or insect growth regulators should be employed. Additionally, greater involvement from local government bodies is crucial, as councillors and other local authorities should actively participate in mosquito control and dengue prevention efforts.\n\nAssistant Professor GM Saifur Rahman from the National University of Bangladesh's zoology department attributed the surge in dengue cases to the country's lack of a centralized and proactive mosquito control program. He highlighted the need for year-round preventive measures, including indoor residual spraying with long-lasting insecticides that provide protection for six to seven months. However, such interventions are largely absent in Bangladesh. Countries with centralized vector control systems generally achieve better results compared to those with decentralized management, where efforts vary from one city to another.\n\nRahman also criticized the uncoordinated application of larvicides such as novaluron and Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, noting that different authorities are adopting disparate approaches without a unified strategy. This fragmented approach is hindering the effectiveness of the control program. He called for the establishment of a central mosquito control authority, supported by expert entomologists, to oversee and monitor dengue prevention activities nationwide. Without a coordinated national control system, dengue cases are likely to continue rising, and the current fragmented approach offers little chance of reversing the trend, he concluded.",
  "summary": "Dengue infections and deaths rose sharply in July, raising fears that the outbreak could worsen in the coming months unless the authorities adopt a coordinated nationwide mosquito control strategy.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}