Dengue fever continues to take a toll on public health across Bangladesh, with Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) recording 42 fatalities among admitted patients up to 3 October this year.
Official statistical figures obtained directly from the prominent public hospital show that a total of 3,085 patients suffering from dengue have been admitted to DMCH since January. Among them, 2,181 individuals successfully recovered and received formal discharge releases, whilst 579 patients departed the facility against medical advice or on their own authority. At present, 298 dengue sufferers are undergoing active treatment in the dedicated wards, comprising 141 men, 89 women, and 68 children.
Despite the tragic loss of life, hospital data indicates a notable reduction in total fatalities compared to the preceding two years. DMCH registered 118 dengue-related deaths in 2025 and 95 in 2024, representing a cumulative total of 213 deaths across those two years. Historical trends show that October typically marks the peak of fatal infections; in 2025 and 2024, the hospital recorded its highest monthly death tolls in October, with 25 and 24 deaths respectively.
The infection trajectory in 2026 remained relatively low during the early half of the year before escalating sharply with the onset of the monsoon season. Monthly admissions stood at 45 in January, 26 in February, 30 in March, 41 in April, 75 in May, and 122 in June. The situation intensified drastically by late summer, culminating in a spike during September when a single-month peak of 1,403 admissions and 13 deaths was recorded. July and August saw 10 deaths each. In the first three days of October alone, 127 new patients were admitted, two died, 66 were discharged, and 31 left on their own accord.
To manage the heavy influx, hospital authorities designated Wards 402, 502, and 702 within the Medicine Department of the hospital’s new building exclusively for dengue patients. A visit to these specialized wards reveals overcrowded conditions, where the number of accompanying patient relatives often exceeds available space. Although hospital management provides mosquito nets for every patient, many remain unused due to difficulties in hanging them over hospital beds.
Eighteen-year-old Farhan, who arrived from Gazipur following a dangerous drop in his blood platelet levels, shared his experience. He explained that after initial hospitalization in Gazipur, doctors transferred him to DMCH for specialized care. Regarding the unused bed nets, Farhan noted that while the hospital had indeed supplied the net, establishing proper fixtures to hang it securely remained a practical challenge. Ward Master Riyaz Uddin emphasized that failure to use these nets poses a serious transmission risk to accompanying relatives and caregivers present in the wards.
Efforts to obtain official commentary on administrative preparations were met with limited responses. DMCH Director Brigadier General A.K.M. Farhad Hossain stated that Deputy Director Dr Ashraful Alam had been assigned to handle all dengue-related communications. However, repeated telephone calls to Dr Alam yielded no response, leaving administrative statements pending as healthcare workers continue to manage the seasonal surge.
