Measles outbreak: 17 children die in highest single-day toll

Seventeen children died from measles and measles-like symptoms between 8am Sunday and 8am today (4 May), the highest number of deaths recorded in a single day, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

During the same period, 1,456 patients with measles-like symptoms were admitted to hospitals nationwide.

Of these, 154 cases were laboratory-confirmed as measles.

80% of children vaccinated, measles outbreak still unabated

So far this year, at least 52 children have died from confirmed measles infections in Bangladesh. In addition, 259 children have died with symptoms consistent with measles.

DGHS data shows that between 15 March and 04 May, a total of 5,467 measles cases were confirmed through laboratory testing.

According to the latest health bulletin, 41,793 suspected measles cases have been identified nationwide. Of these, 25,151 patients have already been discharged after receiving treatment.

Public health expert M Mushtuq Husain told The Business Standard, "Deaths begin to decline about a month after infections start falling. We are still not seeing signs of infections decreasing. The outbreak remains at its peak, so there are no immediate signs of improvement."

He added, "Given the current measles situation, a public health emergency should be declared so that everyone can work freely in their respective roles. But the government is not doing that. Even after Covid, we still did not learn how to respond properly to an epidemic."

Dr Mushtuq Husain said children with fever should be isolated quickly. This would help ensure treatment while also reducing transmission.

"But the reality is that many poor families in the country live with several people in one room. If one person is infected, the disease spreads rapidly to others. Therefore, arrangements should be made to monitor infected children at upazila health complexes or city corporation hospitals," he said.

Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain said at an event yesterday that measles infections would begin to decline within the next four to five days.

"It usually takes around three weeks for a vaccine to become effective. However, due to the current measures, the outbreak will come under control soon," he said.

The Health Minister said that if ICU services could be ensured at all district hospitals, pressure on central hospitals would be reduced significantly.

He added that specialised wards had already been set up to deal with the measles outbreak, and there were plans to increase their number depending on the situation.

The Health Minister said the previous government had not left an adequate stock of vaccines. However, due to the current government's diplomatic efforts, friendly countries and donor agencies had extended support.

He said a large shipment of vaccines would arrive in the country on 6 May.