Dear Readers,

We are happy to share the 19th issue of the One Health Biweekly Update from the One Health Secretariat.

This edition provides a concise overview of recent developments in Bangladesh, the region, and around the world, featuring updates on disease outbreaks, emerging health threats, and other One Health issues drawn from official and credible sources. 

All previous issues remain available in our archive, reflecting the sustained interest and engagement of our growing readership.

Thank you for your continued interest and support in advancing collaboration across the human, animal, and environmental health sectors to strengthen health security.

Dr. Nure Alam
Dr. Farhana Rahman
One Health Secretariat, Bangladesh

Health authorities in Faridpur upazila, Pabna temporarily closed the operating theatre of a private clinic after 12 patients who underwent surgery there tested positive for tuberculosis (TB). Most of the affected patients had undergone caesarean sections in May 2026. A three-member committee is investigating the source of infection, while officials have ordered inspection, sanitation of the operating theatre and replacement of surgical equipment. The clinic performs around 60–70 surgeries each month, raising concern that additional cases could emerge. Authorities have not yet confirmed the source or whether the infections are directly linked to procedures at the clinic.

(The Daily Star)

Dengue transmission intensified across Bangladesh during the second half of August 2026, amid the ongoing monsoon season. Between 15 and 31 August, an additional 12,673 cases were reported, increasing the cumulative case count from 23,173 to 35,846, representing a 54.7% increase compared with the previous reporting period. The dengue-related death toll also increased sharply, with 30 additional deaths reported during the period, bringing the cumulative number of deaths to 97.

Cases increased across Dhaka and several other divisions. Dhaka Division reported 5,042 additional cases, accounting for approximately 39.8% of all cases reported during the reporting period. Outside Dhaka, Khulna Division recorded the largest increase with 2,488 cases, followed by Chattogram with 1,598 and Barishal with 1,559 cases.

The sharp increase in dengue cases and deaths, combined with widespread transmission across multiple divisions, calls for sustained public health action. Surveillance and early case detection, integrated vector control and source reduction, and community engagement remain central to limiting transmission and reducing dengue-related illness and deaths.

(DGHS Dengue Dashboard)

Dengue hospital admissions in Khulna increased sharply in August, rising from 1,252 in July to 3,800 in August, while reported deaths increased from five to 12. Khulna and Bagerhat recorded the highest case numbers, with Bagerhat seeing more than a ninefold increase compared with August last year. By 29 August, the division had recorded 5,848 hospital admissions for dengue and 20 deaths since January. The sharp rise highlights the continuing seasonal and geographic expansion of dengue transmission in the region.

(Dhaka Tribune)

Bangladesh has revised its malaria elimination target from 2030 to 2034 as persistent transmission in remote and border areas, funding constraints and operational challenges make the earlier  target difficult to achieve. The country reduced reported cases by 82% between 2010 and 2025, but more than 90% of current cases occur in the Chattogram Hill Tracts. Cross-border movement also contributes to continued transmission. The revised strategy prioritizes stronger surveillance, rapid case investigation and targeted action in high-burden areas, including Bandarban and Rangamati.

(The Daily Star)

A preliminary investigation into the deaths of 10 workers at a ship-breaking yard in Sitakunda, Chattogram, has identified hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) as the suspected cause. Experts believe the gas may have been released when ballast water containing dissolved hydrogen sulfide was pumped from a ship’s tank. The Department of Explosives detected H₂S in the affected area several hours after the accident, while carbon monoxide was not found. However, the gas concentration at the time of exposure and how it accumulated in the tank remain unconfirmed pending further laboratory analysis and the full investigation.

(Prothom Alo)

A  study found very high levels of multidrug-resistant E. coli and Salmonella in retail chicken meat and sewage from live-bird markets. Researchers analysed 384 samples collected from 64 live-bird markets across 16 districts. Almost all E. coli and Salmonella recovered from chicken meat were resistant to multiple antibiotics. The findings indicate that  poultry production and marketing environments may contribute to the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), underscoring the need for stronger surveillance, responsible antibiotic use and improved hygiene and biosecurity.

(Microbiology Spectrum)

Measles transmission remained elevated in Bangladesh through the end of August, with continued increases in reported cases and deaths. Between 15 and 31 August, cumulative reported cases increased from 159,576 to 177,303 (11.1% increase), while total reported deaths rose from 902 to 973, with 71 additional deaths during the reporting period. Despite the increase in deaths, the case fatality rate (CFR) declined slightly from 0.57% to 0.55%.

By 20 May, the national measles vaccination campaign had reached 18.4 million children aged 6–59 months, exceeding the target of 18 million. Following the campaign, DGHS data indicated a gradual decline in measles cases, hospitalisations, and deaths during June and July; however, the continued increase in cases and deaths through August highlights the need for sustained surveillance and outbreak response efforts.

(DGHS; The Daily Star)

Nearly 98% of Influenza A cases currently detected in India are H1N1, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The circulating virus is the familiar H1N1 pdm09 strain, which has circulated as a seasonal influenza virus since the 2009 pandemic. ICMR described the recent increase as consistent with the usual seasonal pattern, with most infections remaining mild. However, older adults and people with weakened immunity remain at greater risk of severe illness.

(The Hindu)

At least five children with scrub typhus were treated at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) Hospital in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, within a 15-day period, while more than 50 cases were reported from other government and private hospitals. A two-year-old girl reportedly died from the infection. Scrub typhus, caused by the bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi, spreads through bites of infected chiggers. Common symptoms include high fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, and sometimes breathing difficulties. 

(Amar Ujala)

Nepal is experiencing a significant increase in Japanese encephalitis (JE), with 59 infections and 21 deaths reported over the past one and a half months. Cases have been reported across 25 districts, with about 80% concentrated in 59 local levels. Most infections occurred among unvaccinated people, while 81% of those who died were over 50 years of age, highlighting the risk among older adults. Koshi Province has been particularly affected, recording 24 cases and 10 deaths. Nepal routinely provides JE vaccination to children through its immunization programme, but no JE vaccine is currently available for adults. The mosquito-borne disease can cause severe inflammation of the brain and may result in death or long-term neurological disability. 

(Ekantipur)

The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continued to expand through late August, with 5,794 confirmed cases and 2,786 deaths reported across 60 health zones. Ituri remained the epicentre. Earlier surveillance also showed serious gaps in contact tracing and a high proportion of deaths occurring in communities rather than treatment centres, complicating containment. 

The outbreak is also disrupting essential health services in affected areas. Maternal deaths in Ituri have reportedly roughly doubled since the outbreak began, while UNFPA estimates that 63,700 pregnant women remain at risk. Ebola-related restrictions at health facilities have affected access to essential services, including blood transfusions, adding to the broader health impact of the outbreak. 

DRC has begun compassionate use of the Ervebo vaccine among healthcare and frontline workers. Although Ervebo is licensed for Zaire Ebola virus, not Bundibugyo virus, animal studies and preliminary observations suggest it may offer some cross-protection against Bundibugyo virus, for which no licensed vaccine or specific treatment currently exists. Around 50,000 doses have been approved for frontline workers, while another 20,000 doses will be used in a clinical trial.

(WHO   CIDRAP, Good News Network and Independent)

Six employees at Frankfurt Airport have contracted malaria despite having no travel history to malaria-endemic countries. Authorities believe  infected Anopheles mosquitoes transported by aircraft may have caused the rare cluster. The first four infections were identified in mid-July after the employees became ill between 4 and 6 July. Two employees later died, one in July and another in August, while the other four are recovering. Airport malaria can occur when infected mosquitoes are transported by aircraft or in luggage and subsequently bite people at or near an airport.

(DW)

Tuberculosis (TB) is consistently more common in men than women, but the reasons for this difference have remained unclear. A new analysis combining data from 11 prospective studies involving more than 22,000 people found that men were slightly more likely than women to have TB infection. However, among people already infected, men and women had a similar risk of progressing to TB disease. The findings suggest that differences in exposure to TB infection, rather than progression to disease after infection, may explain much of the higher TB burden among men. 

(The Lancet)