Dengue Cases Climbing as Thailand's Rainy Season Continues

Between January 1 and August 19, Thailand’s Department of Disease Control recorded 21,620 dengue cases and 31 deaths nationwide, with Bangkok alone accounting for around 1,785 cases and four deaths. This is not a one-off spike: dengue, spread by Aedes mosquitoes breeding in stagnant water, climbs every year during the rainy season, which runs roughly from mid-May to mid-October, and although this year’s numbers are below last year’s and below the forecast for 2026, officials say cases are still rising during the season. Health authorities are repeating standard precautions — emptying or covering standing water around the home, using repellent, and seeing a doctor promptly for a high fever with joint pain or rash during these months — advice worth keeping in mind for the rest of the wet season, not just this week. The department is also flagging related risks from the same season, including chikungunya and Zika, which spread through the same mosquitoes.