Health minister says measles outbreak successfully 'arrested,' warns of dengue wave ahead

Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain has said the government has successfully "arrested" the measles outbreak or brought it under control, also warning of a significant dengue challenge ahead.

"The measles outbreak struck the country like a monstrous force all of a sudden. I will not claim we have achieved 100% success, but I can say that we have successfully 'arrested' or brought this disease under control so far," he said today (12 April) at the inauguration of a month-long measles-rubella vaccination campaign, at the Dhaka South City Corporation Nagar Bhaban auditorium.

The minister said that while the campaign has been underway in 30 upazilas of 18 districts since 5 April, special drives have now been launched in densely populated areas, including Dhaka, Mymensingh and Barisal city corporations.

"If we can successfully bring every child aged six to 59 months under vaccination coverage, only then can we protect ourselves from this devastating disease," he said, directing city corporation officials to ensure the programme reaches every alley and neighbourhood.

Sakhawat also sounded an early warning on dengue, saying a significant dengue challenge lies ahead. 

"A dengue wave may be coming. We have already begun working on it two to three days ago," he said. 

The minister also stressed the importance of using the correct chemical concentration when spraying mosquito repellents to ensure adult mosquitoes are effectively killed.

At the same programme, State Minister for Railways and Road Transport Habibur Rashid called for special attention to ensure that children of transport and road workers are not left out of the vaccination drive due to their parents' busy schedules. 

Meanwhile, Dhaka South Administrator Mohammad Abdus Salam blamed the "negligence and failure of the previous government" in carrying out routine work for the measles outbreak. 

"Had they done their job properly, the current government would not be facing this additional burden," he said. 

Professor Dr Pravath Chandra Biswas, chief of the Directorate General of Health Services, said isolation is critical in preventing the spread of measles. 

He stated that special isolation and treatment arrangements for measles patients have been ensured at all government hospitals at the upazila, district and divisional levels under the health ministry and the DGHS. 

Describing the vaccination campaign as a "movement," he said it cannot be made successful by any single individual, doctor or health worker alone.

According to Dhaka South sources, the campaign aims to vaccinate approximately 402,456 children through a total of 540 centres: 90 permanent and 450 temporary. 

Vaccination will be available daily from 9am to 4pm for children aged six months to under five years.