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Dhaka, Apr 16 (UNI): The measles outbreak in Bangladesh continues to intensify, as eight children succumbed to measles and measles-like symptoms in less than 24hrs, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
During this period, over 1,191 patients with measles-like symptoms were admitted to hospitals across the country, out of which 92 cases were laboratory-confirmed as measles.
The eight deaths have added to the death toll, as at least 34 children have died from confirmed measles infections in the country, while 172 children have otherwise succumbed to symptoms consistent with the disease.
According to DGHS date, within the span of a month, between March 15-April 16, a total of 3,065 measles cases were confirmed nationwide through laboratory testing.
As per the latest health bulletin, over 20,352 suspected measles cases have been identified nationwide, out of which 10,496 patients have already been discharged after receiving treatment.
According to UNICEF BD, young children are disproportionally affected with the disease, with children under five accounting for 81% of the total cases, including 34% cent among infants under nine months, who are not yet eligible for routine immunization and, as such remain the most vulnerable.
Additionally, the country’s vaccination rate has fallen significantly, going from over 90-95% within the past decade to a massive low of 57% in 2025, due to the negligence of the former interim government, which abandoned its focus on the measles vaccination almost completely, due to mass political instability.
While the new BNP-led government aims to revive the programme and has embarked on an emergency basis immunization programme, targeting a coverage of 95%, logistical problems, supply chain gaps, overcrowding, and depleting stocks have made reaching this threshold very difficult.
