Muyabia Laboni ; Dhaka – A staggering 50% of children who died from measles in Bangladesh passed away within just 48 hours of being admitted to the hospital.
Data analysis from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) shows that most of the remaining fatalities occurred within five days of treatment.
Experts are pointing to delayed hospitalization and severe complications like pneumonia as the primary drivers behind this high mortality rate.
The Vulnerable Age Gap
According to the DGHS analysis of 60 confirmed measles deaths across 21 districts:
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6 children died on the day of admission.
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24 children died within 48 hours.
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30 children died within five days.
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The youngest victim was only three months old, while the oldest was nine years.
Critically, 29 of the deceased children were under nine months old—the age when the first dose of the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine is typically administered. This means nearly half of the victims became infected before they were even eligible for vaccination under the national program.
High-Risk Zones and Complications
The highest number of patients were treated at major facilities, including Dhaka Medical College Hospital, the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) in Mohakhali, and various specialized children’s hospitals. Patients largely hailed from districts such as Chandpur, Bhola, Pabna, Sylhet, Cox’s Bazar, and Gazipur.
Common symptoms among the victims included:
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High fever and cough
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Severe rashes
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Pneumonia and respiratory distress
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In some cases: convulsions, septic shock, and acute malnutrition.
Expert Insights: Why is it so Fatal?
Dr. Ariful Bashar, former superintendent of IDH, noted two main reasons for the rapid deaths:
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Pre-existing Conditions: Many children suffered from underlying heart disease, diabetes, or malnutrition.
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Sudden Deterioration: Measles frequently triggers pneumonia, causing oxygen levels to drop catastrophically.
Professor Be-Nazir Ahmed, Director of the Disease Control Branch at DGHS, emphasized that a child’s lungs are small, making pneumonia progress rapidly.
“Many patients arrive at specialized hospitals only after being referred from multiple other clinics, by which time their condition is critical,” he said. He urged doctors to prioritize immediate oxygen saturation checks for every measles patient.
Current Infection Stats
In the 24 hours leading up to Tuesday morning, 9 more children died—3 from confirmed measles and 6 with symptoms.
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Total deaths since March 15: 424 (68 confirmed measles, 356 symptomatic).
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Total symptomatic cases: 51,567.
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Confirmed cases: 7,204.
Government Action: 95 Million Vaccine Doses
In response to the crisis, the government has initiated the import of 95 million doses of various vaccines to ensure an uninterrupted supply for the next year.
Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman, Information and Broadcasting Adviser to the Prime Minister, stated that the government has already paid $83.6 million to UNICEF for 10 types of vaccines.
“As of May 10, over 13.2 million doses—including MR, BCG, and Polio—have arrived. We expect the full supply to be completed by September,” Dr. Zahed confirmed.
He assured the public that there is currently an adequate stock of TCV and HPV vaccines, and the new shipments will prevent any vaccine crisis for the next 8 to 12 months.