5 more measles deaths in 24hrs

Five more children died with measles symptoms across Bangladesh in the past 24 hours. 

Three of the deaths occurred in Sylhet Division, while the remaining two were reported in Dhaka and Chattogram divisions, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

During the same period, 1,069 children were identified with either confirmed measles or measles-like symptoms, the DGHS said in its updated measles situation report released on Monday afternoon.

The report said that since March 15, a total of 698 children have died with measles symptoms nationwide, while 95 children have died from confirmed measles infections. The combined death toll from confirmed and suspected measles cases has now reached 793. 

DGHS data also showed that, from March 15 to date, Bangladesh has recorded 118,570 suspected measles cases and 14,578 laboratory-confirmed infections.

Of the total patients, 101,026 have been admitted to hospitals, while 97,532 have already been discharged after receiving treatment, according to the report.

Public health experts say Bangladesh had once been regarded as a regional success story in South Asia, having significantly reduced measles infections and deaths through its routine Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) and nationwide vaccination campaigns. However, they warn that disruptions to immunisation activities in recent years have contributed to the resurgence of the disease.

Meanwhile, questions have been raised over discrepancies in this year's child health campaign targets. The government has set a target of vaccinating 1.8 crore children under the nationwide Measles-Rubella (MR) campaign and 2.26 crore children under the Vitamin A supplementation campaign, creating a gap of about 46 lakh children in the estimated eligible population of the same age group.

Health experts believe the discrepancy warrants a deeper investigation into Bangladesh's measles surveillance system, vaccination coverage and child immunisation data.