Overview

• Health officials said 12 people died and 740 were newly hospitalised in 24 hours, bringing the 2025 toll to at least 179 deaths and nearly 42,000 infections.
• Children are increasingly presenting with high fever, rashes and severe dehydration, with physicians warning of rapid fluid loss and risk of shock.
• Hospitals report sustained pressure, with 2,021 patients currently under treatment nationwide and monthly admissions topping 10,000 in July, August and so far in September.
• Entomologists link the surge to a longer-than-usual monsoon and local breeding in waste-clogged urban areas and construction sites, which are expanding mosquito habitats.
• A concurrent rise in chikungunya is adding to clinic loads, and regional data from Hong Kong reflect a broader pattern of more mosquito-borne disease as warming and travel increase risks.