Workers of the Dhaka City Corporation spray pesticides to prevent dengue and other vector-borne diseases. As of 24 January 2023, over 60,000 dengue cases were reported across Bangladesh – the second-largest dengue outbreak in the country in 22 years. Photo courtesy: ZUMA Wire / IMAGO
Workers of the Dhaka City Corporation spray pesticides to prevent dengue and other vector-borne diseases. As of 24 January 2023, over 60,000 dengue cases were reported across Bangladesh – the second-largest dengue outbreak in the country in 22 years. Photo courtesy: ZUMA Wire / IMAGO
Video

Climate change in Bangladesh is driving a dengue outbreak in winter

Dengue is endemic in Bangladesh but the current outbreak is unusual in its scale and seasonality. Many experts have linked the surge in dengue cases with extreme climate events
Rafiqul Islam

Rafiqul Islam is an environment reporter based in Dhaka.

As of 24 January 2023, a total of 62,885 dengue cases and 287 deaths were reported across Bangladesh since a surge of cases started in June 2022. This is the second-largest dengue outbreak in the country in 22 years.

Dengue is endemic in Bangladesh and mostly occurs during and just after the monsoon season, but the current outbreak is unusual in its scale and seasonality.

Many climate experts have linked the dengue outbreak with extreme climate events and changing weather patterns among other factors. Bangladesh's tropical climatic conditions are allowing for the increased transmission of dengue and other vector-borne diseases like malaria and chikungunya. Excessive rainfall, waterlogging, flooding, rise in temperature and the unusual shifts in seasons are some of the factors for the rise in dengue cases in Bangladesh, according to the World Health Organisation.

Reporter/Camera: Rafiqul Islam

Producer/Edit: Sana Amir

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Bangladesh
climate change
Dhaka
Himal Southasian
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