Health Desk — The ongoing measles crisis in Bangladesh has claimed the lives of eight more children in a 24-hour period ending Thursday morning, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
This latest casualty figure raises the total death toll from measles and suspected measles symptoms to 779 since March 15.
During the same 24-hour window—from 8:00 AM Wednesday to 8:00 AM Thursday—a total of 1,171 new cases were reported nationwide.
Among these, 197 children were lab-confirmed positive for measles, while 974 presented with classic symptoms of the viral disease.
Regional Breakdown and Death Toll
The fatal cases reported over the last day were distributed across multiple divisions: three deaths were recorded in Dhaka, two in Khulna, and one each in Sylhet, Mymensingh, and Chattogram.
Official DGHS figures reveal that of the 779 total fatalities since mid-March, 684 children succumbed to severe measles-like symptoms, while 95 deaths were directly attributed to confirmed measles cases.
Rising Infection Rates and Hospitalization
The epidemiological data paints a concerning picture of the outbreak’s spread across the country. Since March 15, health authorities have logged a total of 129,242 infected children. Out of these:
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115,138 children suffered from measles-like symptoms.
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14,104 children tested positive for confirmed measles infections.
The surging numbers have placed a substantial strain on healthcare facilities. A cumulative total of 97,819 pediatric patients have required hospitalization for measles and related complications since the onset of the tracking period.
Fortunately, medical teams have successfully treated and discharged 94,275 children so far.
Health authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, emphasizing early detection, timely medical intervention, and management of secondary complications to mitigate further pediatric casualties.