The country has witnessed 94 child deaths linked with measles symptoms across the country in last 19 days.
Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) released the figures in a press statement on Friday detailing the current measles situation nationwide. confirmed the information on Friday.
However, laboratory tests have so far confirmed measles as the cause of death in nine cases. During the same period, 711 children have been confirmed infected with the virus.
According to the statement, a total of 5,792 children have been admitted to hospitals across Bangladesh with measles-like symptoms since March 15. Of these, laboratory tests have confirmed measles in 711 cases. Dhaka division has reported the highest number of infections, with 318 confirmed cases.
Health directorate data analysis shows that 977 new children were admitted to hospitals nationwide with measles symptoms in the past 24 hours, of whom 42 tested positive. Among the newly identified cases, Dhaka division recorded the highest number with 18 children, though no new confirmed infections were reported in the division during this period.
By division, Rajshahi reported the second-highest number of new confirmed cases with eight children in the last 24 hours, followed by Khulna and Sylhet with five each, Chittagong with four, and Barisal and Rangpur with one case each.
What Are the Symptoms of Measles?
After exposure to the measles virus, symptoms typically appear within 10 to 14 days, making it difficult to trace the source and timing of infection. Initial symptoms include runny nose, cough, high fever (103�"105°F), red and watery eyes, and the appearance of small white spots or Koplik spots inside the mouth. These early signs usually last four to seven days.
The most visible symptom is a red rash, which generally appears seven to 18 days after infection, starting on the face and upper neck before spreading to the entire body within about three days, eventually reaching the hands and feet. The rash typically lasts five to six days before gradually fading.
Most children infected with measles recover fully within seven to ten days of illness onset and develop lifelong immunity, making reinfection highly unlikely. After infection, the human body primarily produces antibodies against the measles virus’s hemagglutinin (H) protein, which provide long-term protection against future infections.
