Health Desk ; Dhaka — A troubling surge in suspected measles cases across Bangladesh has claimed the lives of five more children in the 24 hours leading up to Monday morning, health authorities confirmed.
Three of the recent deaths were recorded in the Sylhet division alone, with the remaining two reported in Dhaka and Chattogram.
During the same period, 1,069 children were identified with measles or measles-like symptoms.
According to the latest update from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 922 children exhibited suspected symptoms, while 147 were laboratory-confirmed cases.
While no deaths were attributed to confirmed measles in the last 24 hours, the fatal complications associated with suspected cases continue to mount.
Regional Distribution and Hospitalization Trends
The latest daily bulletin highlights a widespread distribution of fresh suspected infections across the country:
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Dhaka Division: 90 cases
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Chattogram Division: 32 cases
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Mymensingh Division: 11 cases
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Barishal Division: 9 cases
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Rangpur Division: 3 cases
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Sylhet Division: 1 case
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Khulna Division: 1 case
Over the last 24 hours, 889 children were newly admitted to hospitals nationwide, while 1,011 patients were discharged following treatment.
Staggering Toll Since Mid-March
The cumulative figures released by the DGHS paint a grim picture of the ongoing health crisis since March 15. Nationwide, total suspected measles cases have reached 118,570, with 14,578 confirmed through diagnostic testing.
Hospitalization numbers remain exceptionally high, with 101,026 children requiring inpatient care since mid-March. Of those admitted, 97,532 have recovered and been discharged.
However, the mortality burden is severe. A total of 793 children have died from measles or measles-related symptoms over this period—comprising 95 confirmed measles deaths and 698 deaths linked to suspected measles symptoms.
Vaccination Gaps and Infant Vulnerability
Emerging data points to critical gaps in immunization coverage as a primary driver behind the severity of the outbreak.
A recent study conducted on hospitalized measles patients at the Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute revealed that 80% of the admitted children had not received a measles vaccine.
Furthermore, separate investigative findings indicate that 52% of the children who succumbed to the disease were under nine months of age—the standard age at which the first routine measles vaccine dose is administered in the country.
In light of these findings, public health experts are calling for an immediate, in-depth investigation into national immunization coverage, vaccine timeliness, and maternal antibody protection to curb further infant mortality.