Concern grows over gaps in vaccination coverage as no measles vaccine was administered in the country for last 8 years keeping the children unprotected from the disease and rising child deaths across country.
In this situation, parents across Bangladesh expressed concerns due to the gaps in vaccination coverage and demanded immediate steps to start the vaccination of measles to prevent outbreak and deaths of the children.
Selina Begum, a private sector employee, has a six-month-old daughter born after a long wait. She told this correspondent that recent media reports on measles infections and deaths have left her deeply worried. Her child is not yet eligible for the measles vaccine, raising uncertainty about what precautions she should take.
At Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Mim Akter was seen sitting beside her five-and-a-half-month-old daughter Mariam Akter. She said the child had been suffering from fever since before Eid. Despite receiving four vaccines at birth, the infant missed subsequent doses due to illness.
Selina and Mim are not alone. Many parents across the country are anxious about the renewed spread of measles and the associated risk of death among children.
Health officials and doctors say the resurgence is largely due to insufficient vaccination, lack of adequate breastfeeding, failure to administer de-worming medication, and widespread malnutrition.
Doctors also warn that even vaccinated children are being infected, which is a cause for concern. Measles, a highly contagious viral disease, can put children's lives at serious risk.
However, physicians say patients are responding well to treatment based on symptoms.
Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain Bakul said in a program on Sunday that the current outbreak is linked to the absence of measles vaccination over the past eight years.
Throughout March, at least 20 child deaths linked to measles have been reported nationwide. According to media reports, 12 children died while undergoing treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, three at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, three at the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Dhaka, and three at Chapainawabganj District Hospital.
On January 4 this year, a measles patient was identified in the Rohingya camp in Cox's Bazar. An alert was issued in the camp area on January 10. At that time, measles patients began to increase in the slum areas of the capital. On Friday, when visited the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Mohakhali in the capital, it saw that there were more patients than beds. A large part of them were measles patients.
Dr Be-Nazir Ahmed, an infectious disease expert and former director of the Disease Control unit at the Directorate General of Health Services, told The Daily Observer that the situation is worsening for two main reasons children's weakened natural and maternal immunity, and infections occurring before vaccination.
"The virus is highly contagious and spreading rapidly. Isolation of infected patients and adherence to national guidelines are essential," he said, adding that there is no direct cure for measles. Complications such as pneumonia and diarrhea significantly increase the risk of death.
He further warned that recent infections reported in Dhaka and other districts pose a serious public health concern. Without swift action, the outbreak could spiral out of control. Strengthening vaccination drives, surveillance, supply chains, and field-level monitoring could help contain the situation.
In Rajshahi Medical College Hospital alone, 12 children died of measles in March, including nine who could not be saved even after being admitted to the ICU. Meanwhile, more than 100 children have been admitted with measles in Mymensingh over the past 12 days, with three reported deaths.
Md Habibur Rahman, divisional director of Rajshahi under the Directorate General of Health Services, told The Daily Observer that as of March 26, 77 out of 246 tested samples were confirmed positive for measles, indicating an infection rate of about 31.3 percent. He added that authorities are fully prepared for diagnosis and treatment, and there is no shortage of vaccines.
Pradip Kumar Saha, divisional director of Mymensingh, told The Daily Observer that measles is suspected when patients present with fever and red rashes. Samples are then collected and sent to Dhaka for confirmation. While testing continues year-round, recent cases have increased.
He noted that malnourished children are at higher risk and emphasized three priority measures in Mymensingh enhanced surveillance to identify affected areas, dedicated hospital beds for measles patients, and nationwide vaccination campaigns alongside routine immunization.
Amid the surge in cases, the health minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain Bakul said the government has allocated Tk 604 crore to procure new measles vaccines.
"We have already approved the purchase. Vaccines will be collected on time and the program will begin," he said.
The minister also claimed that all necessary preparations have been made to provide treatment, including ICU facilities with ventilators in Dhaka and other regions.
"In Dhaka, DNCC wards are ready. ICUs with ventilators have been prepared at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Children's Hospital, Dhaka Medical College, Manikganj, and in North Bengal," he added.
Following reports of child deaths due to a shortage of ICU beds at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, the minister said the government has received five ventilators as donations. Four of them are expected to be sent to Rajshahi immediately.
