Updated: September 2026
An emerging disease is an infection that has newly appeared, is increasing in incidence or geographic range, or is creating a new public-health threat. A re-emerging disease is a known infection that returns or increases after a period of lower transmission.
Bangladesh faces several emerging and re-emerging infectious-disease risks rather than one single “emerging disease.”
Nipah virus: a continuing seasonal risk
WHO reported one laboratory-confirmed fatal Nipah virus infection in Bangladesh in January 2026. The patient lived in Naogaon District and had repeatedly consumed raw date-palm sap. WHO reported that 35 identified contacts were monitored and no additional cases were detected from that event.
Bangladesh has reported Nipah infections almost every year since 2001, with cases typically clustering from December to April. The most practical prevention message for the public is to avoid raw date-palm sap and follow infection-control guidance around suspected cases.
Dengue: recurrent outbreaks and year-to-year variation
Dengue is endemic in Bangladesh and remains under active WHO and national surveillance in 2026. Case numbers can change quickly with season, rainfall, temperature and mosquito density. For current figures, use DGHS and WHO weekly or regional epidemiological bulletins rather than relying on an old annual total.
Prevention focuses on eliminating Aedes mosquito breeding sites, using personal protection against mosquito bites, and seeking assessment promptly when warning signs develop.
Measles and other vaccine-preventable outbreaks
WHO South-East Asia epidemiological bulletins in 2026 have also highlighted measles activity in Bangladesh. Maintaining high routine vaccination coverage and rapid outbreak response is essential to prevent clusters from expanding.
Antimicrobial resistance is an emerging health-security threat
AMR is different from a single outbreak: bacteria become resistant to medicines that previously treated them. WHO’s 2025 global surveillance report describes antibiotic resistance as a growing threat to routine treatment and medical procedures. Better prescribing, infection prevention, vaccination, laboratory surveillance and responsible antibiotic use are central to control.
Why emerging infections occur
- Dense population and urbanization
- Climate and environmental changes
- Travel and population movement
- Human-animal contact and zoonotic spillover
- Gaps in vaccination or infection prevention
- Antimicrobial misuse and resistance
- Improved surveillance detecting threats that were previously missed
How to stay informed
Outbreak information changes rapidly. Check the Directorate General of Health Services and World Health Organization for the latest surveillance updates. Avoid treating old case counts as current data.
Sources
- WHO Disease Outbreak News — Nipah virus infection, Bangladesh, 6 February 2026
- WHO Bangladesh — Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin, Week 36, 2026
- WHO Global antibiotic resistance surveillance report 2025
