Four additional children have passed away in Bangladesh due to suspected measles, bringing the total death count to 280 since March 15, as confirmed by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Within a 24-hour period, 170 new suspected measles cases were reported, totaling 38,301 suspected cases. The DGHS also recorded 115 new confirmed measles cases during the same timeframe, increasing the total confirmed cases to 5,146.
The fatalities recorded since March 15 include 49 confirmed measles-related deaths and 231 deaths among suspected cases. Among the 1,170 newly identified suspected cases, 942 individuals were hospitalized, with 893 discharged. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently urged immediate actions to control the measles outbreak in Bangladesh, emphasizing the need for enhanced surveillance, rapid response systems, and improved vaccination coverage to prevent disease transmission.
A report has highlighted the concerning state of Bangladesh’s health sector, indicating a risk of undoing decades of progress unless corrective measures are promptly implemented. The country’s measles vaccine crisis reflects institutional weakening, with national vaccination coverage dropping to around 60% in 2025 from 85-92% between 2010 and 2022. Experts have warned of a potential widespread measles outbreak if urgent government intervention is not taken, as one infected patient can transmit the disease to 16-18 individuals.
