According to the latest government data spanning from March 15 to May 15, a total of 451 children have lost their lives. This includes 12 child deaths reported in the 24 hours leading up to Friday morning alone.
Rising Toll and Hospitalizations
Data from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) reveals that among the 12 recent casualties, four were confirmed measles patients, while the remaining eight exhibited clear symptoms.
Statistically, 74 deaths have been officially confirmed as measles, while 377 individuals died showing symptoms of the disease. Dhaka Division reported the highest number of symptomatic deaths at 150, followed by Rajshahi Division with 78 fatalities.
Furthermore, a single-day influx saw 111 new confirmed cases alongside 1,192 symptomatic patients rushing to hospitals, resulting in 1,016 new admissions.
Dhaka’s hospitals recorded the highest daily admissions at 422, while Rangpur recorded the lowest at seven.
A Massive Resurgence
The scale of the current outbreak is unprecedented in recent history. The previous highest spike was recorded in 2005 with 25,934 cases. Since then, infections had dropped drastically, with only 132 cases detected last year.
Comparatively, between 2020 and 2024, annual case numbers hovered exceptionally low, ranging from 203 to 2,410. The current sudden surge of 55,611 suspected cases indicates a severe epidemic.
Fatalities Before Vaccination Age
An analysis by the DGHS Management Information System (MIS) of 60 deceased children revealed a tragic trend: a massive portion of the victims passed away before even reaching the eligible age for vaccination.
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3 to 8 months old: 29 children died (too young for the standard vaccine timeline).
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9 to 15 months old: 21 children died.
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16 months to 5 years old: 9 children died.
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One 9-year-old girl also succumbed to the illness.
Three Main Drivers of Child Mortality
Dr. S.M. Ziauddin Haidar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Affairs, explained the critical factors behind the fatalities:
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Post-Measles Pneumonia: Children are primarily dying from pneumonia developing as a secondary complication of measles.
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Severe Malnutrition: A massive portion of the deceased children suffered from acute malnutrition, severely weakening their immune systems.
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Maternal Malnutrition: Poor maternal nutrition leaves infants with low baseline immunity, making them highly susceptible to fatal complications.
Policy Change: Due to the high vulnerability of younger infants, the National Technical Advisory Committee has lowered the minimum age for the measles vaccine from 9 months to 6 months. Health officials urge parents to ensure their children receive the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine via ongoing campaigns, even if they have already completed their regular two-dose EPI schedule.
Expert Insights on Prevention
Experts note that 5% to 8% of infected children suffer from post-measles pneumonia.
At a joint press conference organized by the Bangladesh Lung Foundation and the Chest & Heart Association of Bangladesh, medical specialists emphasized that 99% of patients recover completely if medical care is sought early.
The current mortality rate among infected children stands at 0.8%. Pediatrician Professor Abid Hossain Mollah highlighted that measles severely suppresses immunity, making swift hospitalization crucial to preventing death.
Meanwhile, Professor Ruhul Amin pointed out that shifting dietary habits—such as a drop in exclusive breastfeeding (currently at 56%) and an over-reliance on packaged foods—have left children more vulnerable to infections.
To curb the crisis, experts advise immediate measures: prioritizing mass vaccination, launching “Fever Corners” at all health complexes, distributing WHO-approved clinical guidelines to healthcare workers, and driving nationwide public awareness campaigns.
Situation Malign at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH)
Local updates confirm another tragic casualty at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, where a 9-month-old infant from Tarakanda Upazila died on Thursday morning after being admitted in critical condition.
Doctors cited pneumonia, heart failure, and suspected measles as the primary causes of death.
In the last 24 hours, MMCH admitted 23 new patients, bringing its total active measles caseload to 104. Over the past two months (March 17 to May 15), the hospital has treated 1,340 measles patients. While 1,203 have recovered and returned home, 33 children have died at the facility.