Concerns have emerged over significant discrepancies in the reporting of dengue cases in Dhaka, raising questions about the accuracy of Bangladesh’s dengue surveillance system amid an intensifying outbreak. A recent comparison reveals that the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) reported 316 dengue admissions at four major hospitals in the capital on September 21, whereas hospital records indicate a total of 817 patients—a difference of 501 cases.

For example, at Mugda Medical College Hospital, DGHS data showed 49 dengue admissions, while hospital authorities recorded 223 cases on the same date. This sizable gap underscores potential flaws in data collection and verification processes, which experts warn could hinder the government’s ability to fully assess and respond to the outbreak.

Currently, the DGHS’s surveillance system does not capture data from all health facilities, excluding many private hospitals and clinics, especially those outside Dhaka. Additionally, patients treated by private practitioners in individual chambers are not typically included in official counts. Despite these limitations, the DGHS is also criticized for inaccuracies in the data reported by the limited number of hospitals under its surveillance. As of September 21, DGHS figures indicate 63,627 hospitalizations and 190 deaths due to dengue in 2026.

The ongoing dengue crisis has exposed weaknesses in the government’s approach to vector control, which experts describe as reactive and insufficiently coordinated. Over the past 11 years, approximately Tk 825 crore has been spent on mosquito control measures in Dhaka, yet the infection remains a persistent threat throughout the year. Many city corporations lack entomologists, and the DGHS has reportedly failed to conduct regular nationwide entomological surveys essential for tracking mosquito populations.

Current prevention efforts rely heavily on fragmented methods such as fogging, larviciding, and cleanliness campaigns, rather than implementing a comprehensive, science-driven strategy to identify and eliminate mosquito breeding hotspots. Public health specialists argue for the introduction of nationwide surveillance and centralized control efforts to manage the outbreak effectively.

Health authorities have been urged to investigate the reasons behind the reporting discrepancies and to enforce stricter verification and timely submission of hospital data. Expanding the surveillance system to incorporate private healthcare providers and recording cases treated outside hospital settings are seen as critical steps. Without more reliable and comprehensive data, officials warn the government will continue to face challenges in controlling the spread of dengue virus across the country.