DHAKA — The Bangladesh government has launched an emergency immunization program and other measures to contain a measles outbreak. A total of 17,268,908 children have so far received the measles-rubella vaccine under the ongoing campaign, or 96% of the target, according to the Directorate General of Health Services. The program aims to reach about 18 million children nationwide.
According to data from the directorate’s integrated measles-rubella vaccine control center, vaccinations by division were: Barishal, 1,008,301; Chattogram, 3,977,772; Dhaka, 4,324,870; Khulna, 1,533,546; Mymensingh, 1,294,015; Rajshahi, 2,020,373; Rangpur, 1,862,196; and Sylhet, 1,247,835.
Vaccinations in city corporations were: Barishal, 39,053; Chattogram, 253,662; Cumilla, 47,612; Dhaka North, 490,548; Dhaka South, 396,949; Gazipur, 180,861; Narayanganj, 77,088; Khulna, 82,897; Mymensingh, 53,081; Rajshahi, 53,687; Rangpur, 75,598; and Sylhet, 58,029.
The government began the first phase of the campaign on April 5 in 30 upazilas across 18 districts. Vaccinations in those upazilas have ended, and the number of measles cases has already begun to fall, the directorate said. Director General Prof. Dr. Prabhat Chandra Biswas said, “In areas where 100% vaccination has been completed, measles cases have already started to decline.”
In the second phase, beginning April 12, the campaign was extended simultaneously to four major city corporations: Dhaka South, Dhaka North, Barishal and Mymensingh. That phase is continuing. The third phase, beginning April 20, expanded the campaign nationwide. Vaccinations run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on all working days. The campaign will run through May 20 in city corporation areas and through May 12 elsewhere.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Mohammad Sakhawat Hossain said all children will be covered within the next few days. “Many areas have already reached 100%. Where 100% vaccination has been done, measles is under control,” he said. “Because the government acted quickly, the outbreak is beginning to recede. We expect the situation to come under control soon. As soon as we received the vaccines, we did not wait for a scheduled date — we began vaccinating.”
Public health experts said the measles vaccine is highly effective and that outbreaks typically decline within two to three weeks of a properly run campaign. They said the government is taking the steps needed to manage the outbreak.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report