Endemic viral fever overwhelms hospitals in Bangladesh's capital

July 25, 2025

Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka, is currently experiencing a severe wave of viral fevers affecting nearly every household, overwhelming hospitals and clinics. Social media platforms like Facebook showcase countless personal accounts of individuals suffering from extreme fever symptoms, including temperatures reaching 103-104 degrees Fahrenheit, severe headaches, and debilitating body aches. The current monsoon season with its erratic weather patterns has created ideal conditions for viral infections, with experts identifying multiple causes including mosquito-borne diseases like dengue and chikungunya, COVID-19 variants, common influenza, respiratory infections, and waterborne diseases.

Who is affected

Residents of Dhaka and broader Bangladesh, with nearly every household reporting cases
Families experiencing multiple infections spreading among household members
Patients seeking medical care at hospitals and clinics that are now overwhelmed
Individuals suffering from extreme symptoms including high fevers, severe headaches, and debilitating body aches
Those in areas where flooding has caused sewage to contaminate drinking water

What action is being taken

Hospitals and clinics are attempting to treat the overwhelming number of patients despite bed shortages
Patients are receiving treatment at home when hospitalization isn't possible
Doctors familiar with annual dengue outbreaks are managing cases based on their experience
Measurements of the Breteau Index are being conducted to track Aedes mosquito larvae density

Why it matters

The scale of this outbreak appears significantly larger than previous years' seasonal illnesses
Multiple serious diseases are circulating simultaneously (dengue, chikungunya, COVID-19, typhoid)
Hospital systems are overwhelmed, making it difficult for patients to access needed care
The high Breteau Index (above 20) in every district indicates extremely high risk for dengue spread throughout Bangladesh
Climate change has been identified by medical experts as a primary driver of the outbreak
Weakened local government systems following political changes have reduced effective mosquito control efforts

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Global Voices