When will the death procession from measles end?
Not a single day has passed without a measles-related death in the last 37 days.
Highlights:
- 38 children die from confirmed measles so far
- 185 more children die with measles symptoms
- 85% of confirmed measles cases under age of five
- 33% of cases among under 9 months' old
- It may take one to one-and-a-half months to decline
- Children showing symptoms should be isolated immediately
- Vaccination and isolation are effective ways to control
- Rash typically appears after three to four days
Around 30,000 children across the country have been infected with confirmed and suspected measles this year, while 223 children showing measles and measles-like symptoms have died so far, even as a nationwide vaccination campaign is underway.
Not a single day has passed without a measles-related death in the last 37 days. Health experts warn that it may take several weeks before infections and deaths begin to fall significantly.
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Professor Dr Saif Ullah Munshi, former chairman of the Virology Department at Bangladesh Medical University, said it is unrealistic to expect an immediate drop in cases.
He said after vaccination, it takes at least 15 to 25 days for the situation to start coming under control, while full normalisation may take one to one-and-a-half months.
Dr Saif, also the director of the Super Specialised Hospital, stressed that at least 95% vaccination coverage, including two doses, is required to effectively control measles, warning that lower coverage increases infection risk.
Three children die in 24 hours; 1,159 new cases
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), three children died from measles and measles-like symptoms between 8am Monday and 8am yesterday (21 April).
During the same period, 1,159 patients with measles-like symptoms were hospitalized nationwide, of whom 188 were laboratory-confirmed measles cases.
So far this year, at least 38 children have died from confirmed measles, while another 185 deaths involved children with measles-like symptoms.
DGHS data shows that between 15 March and 21 April, 3,805 cases were confirmed by laboratory tests, while 25,935 suspected cases were identified nationwide.
A nationwide emergency measles vaccination campaign began last Monday, targeting 17,840,536 children aged six months to under five years.
Earlier phases began on 5 April in 30 upazilas and 13 municipalities, covering around 12 lakh children. In four city corporations—Dhaka South, Dhaka North, Mymensingh, and Barishal—the programme began on 12 April, targeting 976,838 children.
According to official figures, 3,331,359 children have already been vaccinated across two phases.
Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) data shows that 85% of confirmed cases are among children under five, while 33% are under nine months of age.
Decline to be gradual, experts say
For the first time this year, measles vaccines are being administered to children under nine months due to rising infections in this age group. Experts have urged vaccination from six months onward.
Dr Arifur Rahman of WHO Bangladesh said children develop immunity 2–3 weeks after vaccination, and infection rates will only begin to decline after that period. He added that areas where vaccination started earlier will see improvement sooner.
Public health expert Dr M Mushtuq Husain said noticeable improvement may begin three to four weeks after vaccination starts, but deaths may take longer to decline fully—about one and a half to two months.
Dr Saif also warned that infection reduction will be gradual rather than immediate.
Isolation and support also needed
Experts say vaccination and isolation are both essential to control the outbreak.
Dr Mushtaq Husain emphasised isolating children with fever immediately to reduce transmission. However, he noted that overcrowded living conditions make isolation difficult for many poor families, requiring hospital-based care and government support.
Dr Sanjoy Kumar Dey, professor of Neonatology at Bangladesh Medical University, said early symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and light sensitivity, followed by rash after three to four days.
He urged immediate isolation of suspected cases, monitoring for breathing difficulties, and ensuring vitamin A intake, along with vaccination as the most effective prevention method.
