Dhaka, Aug. 28 -- Over the years, cases of the mosquito-borne dengue virus were typically confined to Dhaka's urban landscape. But recently, the deadly disease has spread far beyond the boundaries of the city.

As Bangladesh grapples with the worst dengue outbreak on record, the disease is now equally as prevalent outside the capital, posing a nationwide health risk. It has also stoked fears of the healthcare system being overwhelmed.

Alarmingly, larvae of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, a known carrier of the dengue virus, were discovered in seven out of 10 houses in a village in Patuakhali's Dumki Upazila. A survey by the health directorate also revealed the presence of Aedes larvae in 10 out of 37 containers.

In another survey conducted ...