Four more children die as measles toll hits 1,114

Four more children have died with measles and measles-related symptoms across Bangladesh in the past 24 hours, pushing the cumulative death toll from the outbreak to 1,114 since March 15, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) reported.

Of the total fatalities, 102 were laboratory-confirmed measles cases, whereas 1,012 involved patients who succumbed to severe symptoms or suspected infection. Furthermore, the DGHS recorded 1,242 new cases of measles or measles-like symptoms during the same period, taking the cumulative tally of suspected cases to 194,084 between March 15 and October 2, while laboratory tests have confirmed the disease in 21,623 people. Meanwhile, Dhaka remains the worst-affected division, registering three symptom-related deaths and one confirmed measles death in the latest 24-hour period.

Hospital data show that 172,021 patients with measles symptoms have been admitted nationwide since March 15, of whom 166,933 have recovered and returned home. Moreover, cases and deaths have also been reported in Chattogram, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal, Mymensingh and Rangpur divisions, underscoring that the outbreak shows no sign of being geographically contained.

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Consequently, health officials and doctors continue to stress the importance of timely vaccination, early hospitalisation and appropriate treatment, particularly for children, in order to reduce the risk of severe complications. Nevertheless, with deaths still occurring daily, the effectiveness of the ongoing immunisation drive will be critical in determining how swiftly the outbreak can be brought under control.