Measles claims 6 more lives

Six more people died in Bangladesh in the past 24 hours after developing symptoms of measles. The deaths occurred between 8am Monday and 8am Tuesday. However, no one died with confirmed measles. 

With these deaths, 936 people have died with measles symptoms since March 15. Another 100 people have died from confirmed measles cases. The combined death toll now stands at 1,036, the highest number of measles-related deaths in the country’s history.

Of the six people who died with measles symptoms in the past 24 hours, four were from Dhaka Division, one from Sylhet Division and one from Chattogram Division, according to the Directorate General of Health Services’ regular report issued on Tuesday.

The report said another 1,239 people developed measles symptoms across the country in the past 24 hours, while 77 new confirmed measles cases were detected.

Since March 15, the number of people who have developed measles symptoms has reached 173,959. During the same period, 20,201 people have been confirmed with measles.

A total of 153,279 people have been hospitalised with measles symptoms since March 15, while 147,386 have recovered and been discharged.

Public health experts said that for nearly eight years, the number of measles infections had not exceeded 400, let alone caused deaths. Bangladesh had aimed to eliminate measles by 2025 and could have received measles elimination certification in 2026. However, the situation has now taken the opposite turn.

They said neglect in vaccination efforts in 2025 was a major factor behind the outbreak after a long gap. Although infections began rising in March, adequate measures were not taken. Around 40 lakh children were left out of the mass vaccination campaign conducted in April and May.