As many as seven Bangladeshi children have succumbed to measles-like symptoms within 24 hours, pushing the total number of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths in the country to 620. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has categorized the recent deaths as measles-suspected, with suspected measles deaths now standing at 529 and confirmed deaths at 91.
As per reports, Bangladesh recorded 1,221 suspected measles cases in a day, bringing the total cases to 79,012. Additionally, 66 new confirmed measles cases were reported during the same period, totaling confirmed cases to 9,686. Since March 15, 64,263 suspected measles patients have been hospitalized, with 60,084 recoveries.
Last month, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) highlighted its prior warnings to Bangladesh’s interim government regarding vaccine shortages that could lead to a health crisis. UNICEF had communicated this concern through letters and meetings with Health Ministry officials during Muhammad Yunus’ leadership.
UNICEF representative to Bangladesh, Rana Flowers, disclosed that the agency had consistently alerted the government about vaccine shortages since 2024. Despite multiple letters and meetings, the issue remained unresolved. UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban also raised concerns about vaccine shortages during a meeting with the Foreign Ministry in Bangladesh last year.
Flowers mentioned that UNICEF would provide evidence to support the investigation initiated by the current Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led government into the measles outbreak.
