Dengue is spreading across rural areas of Bangladesh, with the number of patients continuing to rise. In several upazilas, growing patient pressure is exposing shortages in testing facilities, hospital beds and other medical services.In Kaliganj, Jhenaidah, dengue testing at the upazila health complex has remained suspended since September 28 due to a shortage of test kits. Patients arriving with dengue symptoms are being forced to seek testing at private hospitals and diagnostic centres.Hospital officials said 282 people were tested for dengue between September 1 and 27, with 37 testing positive. Of them, 34 were admitted to the hospital, received treatment and recovered.Kaliganj Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Amanullah Al Mamun said the hospital had adequate supplies of test kits, but some were lent to other upazilas, resulting in the current shortage. He hoped testing would resume soon after fresh supplies arrive.In Keshabpur, Jashore, a man named Motleb Hossain died of dengue on Thursday morning. The businessman from Baliadanga in Keshabpur municipality was admitted to the government hospital on Wednesday afternoon after developing a fever. He died while undergoing treatment the following morning.A total of 172 people have been admitted to local hospitals in Keshabpur with dengue this year. Three patients are currently undergoing treatment, while the others have recovered and returned home, hospital officials said.The dengue situation in Kishoreganj is also showing no sign of easing. According to the latest data from the district Civil Surgeon’s Office, 40 new dengue cases were detected on September 30. Since the beginning of the year, the district has recorded 1,598 cases, with 114 patients currently undergoing treatment at different hospitals.At Bajitpur Upazila Health Complex, 104 dengue patients are currently receiving treatment.Dr Alvi Hasan of the health complex said measures would be taken to increase beds, testing facilities, saline, medicines, doctors and nursing services if the patient load rises further.In Rajsthali of Rangamati, dengue cases nearly tripled in a month. The local health complex recorded 20 cases in September, compared with seven in August.Most patients were treated at the local health complex and recovered. A few whose conditions deteriorated were referred to other hospitals for advanced treatment.Rajsthali Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Naushad Khan said dengue cases had been increasing in the area over the past several months, following the broader trend across the country.Dengue has also increased pressure on the health complex in Pirganj, Rangpur. The 50-bed facility currently has 130 admitted patients, including 24 dengue patients. Due to the overcrowding, some patients are being treated on the hospital floor and verandas.Of the 24 dengue patients, 14 are men and 10 are women. Most had recently returned from Dhaka after developing fever there. Others were diagnosed after developing fever at home and undergoing blood tests at the health complex.Dr Tariqul Islam, resident medical officer at Pirganj Upazila Health Complex, said the impact of dengue was particularly high in Pirganj compared with other areas of Rangpur district. He said the facility had not seen such a high number of dengue patients in previous years.