Bangladesh dengue surge overwhelms hospitals as deaths reach 419
Hospitals across Bangladesh are struggling to cope with a surge in dengue infections, with patients treated on mattresses in overcrowded wards and corridors as the disease has claimed 419 lives nationwide this year.
Footage from Mugda Medical College Hospital in Dhaka shows patients lying on beds and floor mattresses, while relatives crowd the corridors. Patients and their families report long queues and delays of up to several days for medical test results. Some families are facing multiple infections at once, with one patient saying four relatives were also receiving treatment for dengue at home while his mother faced possible intensive care.
As of 31 October, around 135,000 dengue patients had been admitted to hospitals nationwide, with 6,236 still receiving treatment. October alone accounted for 174 deaths, making it the deadliest month of the year so far. Hospital officials urged residents to remove stagnant water where Aedes mosquitoes breed and seek medical attention early if symptoms develop.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
