5 more die of measles, toll rises to 648

Five more children died from measles-like symptoms across Bangladesh in the 24 hours leading up to Saturday morning.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), three of the deaths occurred in Dhaka, while Rajshahi and Mymensingh recorded one fatality each.

The recent fatalities push the overall death toll to 648 since mid-March, including 92 confirmed cases and 556 children who died showing measles-like symptoms.

In Mymensingh, a 10-month-old child died at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH) on Friday night following a nearly two-week battle in isolation.

According to Dr. Mohammad Golam Maola, Focal Person of the Measles Medical Team at MMCH, a total of 2,062 children have been admitted to the hospital with measles symptoms since March 17, of whom 1,912 have been recovered and been discharged. 

Currently, 100 children remain under treatment with three dedicated medical teams to ensure proper care. The hospital's measles-related child death toll this year has now risen to 50.

According to the latest DGHS bulletin, 10,248 measles cases have been confirmed since March 15, alongside 84,899 children presenting with symptoms countrywide. The outbreak has forced 69,606 hospitalizations so far. However, 65,852 patients have recovered, including 577 discharged in the last 24 hours against 672 new admissions.

Health officials are urging parents to remain vigilant and ensure their children are fully enrolled in the national routine immunization program.