The key facts

  • 418 deaths and more than 133,000 hospitalizations since the beginning of the year
  • October is the deadliest month: 173 cases compared with 148 in September
  • The country is simultaneously fighting the world's largest measles outbreak (more than 1,200 dead)

October became the deadliest month

The dengue fever situation in Bangladesh is deteriorating: 418 people have died since the beginning of the year, and more than 133,000 patients have been hospitalized. According to the country's health ministry, 173 deaths were recorded in October — more than the 148 cases in September, making October the deadliest month of 2026. This is reported by Zamon.uz citing Reuters.

Two epidemics at once

At the same time, the country is battling the world's largest measles outbreak, which has claimed more than 1,200 lives; the double burden is complicating the healthcare system's work. Doctors note that many patients seek hospital care only after severe complications develop. At Shaheed Suhrawardy Hospital in Dhaka, 279 dengue patients are being treated, and another 67 were admitted in a single day.

Why improvement is expected only by December

Experts emphasize that repeat infections and late diagnosis increase the risk of severe cases: all four serotypes of the virus circulate in the country, so a person who has recovered can be infected by a different serotype. Kabirul Bashar, an entomologist at Jahangirnagar University, predicts only a slight decline in incidence in November: previous rains have created favorable breeding grounds for mosquitoes, and changes in rainfall and humidity patterns due to climate change are lengthening the breeding season. In his assessment, significant improvement is unlikely before December. A dengue vaccine has not yet been introduced in Bangladesh, but officials are considering its use as a long-term measure.