Labonnya Liza , DHAKA – A devastating surge in measles across Bangladesh has revealed a grim reality: nearly 90% of children who lost their lives to the virus died due to complications from pneumonia and malnutrition.
Data analyzed from 66 deaths at three major hospitals in the capital—the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH), Bangladesh Shishu Hospital, and the DNCC Dedicated COVID-19 Hospital—paints a tragic picture of the current outbreak.
Beyond pneumonia, 33% of the deceased suffered from meningoencephalitis (brain inflammation), while 22% succumbed to septicemia (bloodstream infection).
Unvaccinated Children at Highest Risk
A staggering 74% of the infected children had not received a single dose of the measles vaccine. While 14% had taken the first dose, 12% contracted the virus even after completing both doses, indicating a potential “immunity gap” or weakened immune systems.
Dr. Riad Mahmud, Health Manager (Immunization) at UNICEF Bangladesh, noted that while special vaccination campaigns in 30 upazilas are showing results, the backlog of unvaccinated children remains a primary driver of the crisis.
The Deadly Trio: Measles, Pneumonia, and Malnutrition
Health experts emphasize that measles significantly weakens a child’s immune system, making them easy targets for secondary infections.
-
Rapid Deterioration: One in three children died within 24 hours of hospital admission.
-
Age Vulnerability: 18% of deceased children were under six months old, while 50% were aged between 7 to 10 months.
-
The Malnutrition Factor: Nutrition specialist Md. Ferdous highlighted that severely acute malnourished (SAM) children face a 12-fold higher risk of death. Alarmingly, the nationwide Vitamin A Plus campaign—crucial for measles prevention—has been suspended for the last 18 months due to procurement delays.
Infrastructure Gaps and Late Referrals
Dr. F.A. Asma Khan, Superintendent of the Infectious Diseases Hospital, stated that most children arrive from rural districts with severe respiratory distress. “Delayed referrals from upazila levels to Dhaka make the situation critical. If oxygen support were ensured at the primary stage, many lives could have been saved,” she said.
Current Outbreak Statistics
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS):
-
Total Confirmed Cases: 4,954 (since March 15).
-
Total Deaths: 274 (including 47 confirmed and 227 suspected cases).
-
Suspected Patients: Over 35,080 children currently under observation.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has categorized the situation in Bangladesh as “High Risk.” Despite this, public health experts like Mushtaq Hussain criticize the government for not declaring a health emergency, which could have accelerated resource mobilization and public awareness.
Expert Recommendations
To curb the rising death toll, experts recommend:
-
Immediate resumption of Vitamin A supplementation.
-
Strengthening oxygen support and ICU facilities at the Upazila level.
-
Conducting formal Death Reviews to identify clinical gaps.
-
Massive awareness campaigns to ensure 95% EPI coverage for herd immunity.
DGHS Director General, Prof. Dr. Probhat Chandra Biswas, stated that 19 million children (61% of the target) have now been vaccinated, and fresh vaccine supplies are expected to arrive by next month.