Bangladesh Faces Record Dengue Surge, Hospitals Strain

Bangladesh reports more than 45,000 dengue cases and 130 deaths as of 8 September 2026, with a daily spike of 1,500 new infections. The outbreak is overwhelming health facilities, which are running low on rapid diagnostic kits, intravenous fluids, ultrasound machines, hematocrit testing capacity, blood bags and apheresis kits. In response, the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) has supplied 23,000 NS1 test kits and 50 apheresis kits to the Directorate General of Health Services and the Dhaka Blood Bank, and has distributed an additional 44,375 kits through international partners. BDRCS volunteers are conducting vector‑control clean‑ups and community‑based surveillance in Rajshahi Division, while the government has launched a three‑month nationwide prevention campaign on 12 September. Health authorities also held a training‑of‑trainers session on clinical management of dengue on 31 August to bolster hospital readiness.