Authorities in Bangladesh and Nepal are scrambling to contain and treat the disease - which is also known as 'breakbone fever' for the severe muscle and joint pains it induces.

Health director-general Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan says the cumulative number increased by about 113.3% compared to the same period last year.

However, the number of hotspot localities reported decreased to 86 compared to 93 the previous week.

Hospitals, especially in Dhaka, are struggling to find space for the high caseload of patients suffering high fever, joint pain and vomiting, health officials say.

Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa says dengue cases rose by 129.2% from 27,914 in the same period last year, while deaths increased by 136.8% or 19 cases.

Dengue rates are rising globally, with reported cases since 2000 up eight-fold to 4.2 million in 2022, WHO says.

The death rate meanwhile has increased by 122%, from eight deaths to 40.

The public is asked to remove and dump out water-holding containers to reduce breeding areas for Aedes mosquitoes.

This year, the disease was found in the Sudanese capital for the first time, and Peru recently declared a state of emergency in most regions due to a surge in cases.

Health director-general Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan says the cumulative number increased by about 164.4% compared to the same period last year.

Health director-general Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan says the cumulative number increased by about 170% compared to the same period last year.

Health director-general Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan says the cumulative number so far is 41,175, compared to 14,724 in the same period last year.