The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said on Wednesday that eight more children died from measles and measles-related symptoms across the country in the past 24 hours.
Among them, one death was confirmed as caused by measles, while the remaining seven patients died with measles symptoms, it said in a DGHS daily measles report on Wednesday.
According to DGHS data, a total of 69 people have died from confirmed measles infections since March 15, while 363 others died from suspected measles-related complications during the same
period.
Since March 15, the country has recorded 7,150 confirmed measles cases and 53,056 suspected infections.
So far, 38,054 patients with suspected measles have been admitted to hospitals, while 33,832 have recovered and been discharged.
Meanwhile, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain said that the government's priority is to ensure children's safety rather than blame anyone over the measles vaccine.
Speaking at a press conference on the country's vaccine situation on Wednesday, the minister said that many children develop pneumonia after contracting measles and that ventilation is often the final stage of treatment.
He said the government has ensured adequate ventilation support and that 10 additional ventilators donated from the United States through a private pharmaceutical entrepreneur would be distributed soon.
He added that measles treatment, isolation facilities and ICU services are continuing, while doctors remain actively engaged in patient care. Children who missed vaccinations will be identified and brought under immunization coverage, he said, adding that the routine Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) remains ongoing.
The minister noted that vaccines generally take three to four weeks to become fully effective and said the country is expected to begin seeing the benefits soon.
Asked whether the government would investigate alleged mismanagement surrounding the vaccination programme, the minister said a central decision would be taken after the current crisis subsides.
