The measles outbreak in Bangladesh is continuing. Five more children have died of measles or measles-like symptoms across the country in the past 24 hours, while 1,020 new patients were identified with measles or its symptoms in the same period. The figures were released on Saturday afternoon in the Directorate General of Health Services’ (DGHS) regular measles report.
According to the report, one child died of confirmed measles in the 24 hours from 8am Friday to 8am Saturday, while four more children died of suspected measles. DGHS data show that from March 15 to Saturday morning, a total of 1,053 people have died of measles or its symptoms — 101 from confirmed measles and 952 from suspected cases. With 1,020 new cases identified in the past 24 hours, concern over the country’s measles situation continues.
The DGHS is publishing data on measles cases and deaths regularly. With infections being detected among children in various parts of the country, patients are being treated and monitored at health facilities. Measles is a highly contagious viral disease, with fever, cough, a runny nose, red eyes and later a reddish rash on the body as its main symptoms. It can be fatal in children if serious complications develop.
Health ministry officials said the government moved quickly to begin a vaccination programme when the outbreak emerged late in March this year. An emergency vaccination drive began in the first phase on April 5 across 30 upazilas in 18 districts. A second phase followed on April 12 in four city corporations — Dhaka South, Dhaka North, Barisal and Mymensingh — and a third phase began on April 20, rolling out measles-rubella vaccination simultaneously nationwide. That programme is still under way. However, with the outbreak continuing, the government is due to launch a fresh, wide-ranging vaccination campaign against measles from September 26.