Five more children die of measles, 1,025 new cases recorded

Bangladesh's measles outbreak showed no sign of abating on Wednesday, with health authorities reporting five further child deaths and 1,025 new cases or suspected cases recorded within a single 24-hour period, according to an updated bulletin from the Directorate General of Health Services' Health Emergency Operation Centre and Control Room.

Of the latest fatalities recorded between Tuesday and Wednesday morning, one confirmed measles death occurred in Rajshahi division, while four additional deaths involving measles-like symptoms were reported across Dhaka, Barisal and Sylhet divisions. The tally brings the cumulative death toll since 15 March to 885, comprising 99 confirmed measles deaths and 786 deaths among patients presenting symptomatic or suspected cases, meaning roughly 89 percent of all fatalities have occurred among the latter group, a figure underscoring both the scale of the ongoing crisis and its disproportionate toll on children.

Health officials confirmed 84 new laboratory-verified cases and 941 additional symptomatic cases in the latest 24-hour period, bringing the total number of suspected patients since mid-March to 139,125, of whom 17,469 have been confirmed as measles-positive. A further 879 children were admitted to hospital over the same period, while 847 were discharged following treatment, taking cumulative hospital admissions to 121,013 against 116,827 discharges recorded since the outbreak began.

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Describing measles as a highly contagious but readily preventable disease through timely vaccination, health authorities said field-level surveillance had been intensified, particularly in divisions recording the highest mortality rates, with heightened emphasis on public awareness campaigns and rapid case detection. Officials have also issued directives to ensure adequate drug supplies at hospitals treating admitted patients and urged parents to remain vigilant and verify their children's vaccination records, as the health department continues round-the-clock monitoring and has instructed local administrations to take all necessary measures to contain the outbreak.