Three more children succumbed to measles in Bangladesh, bringing the total confirmed and suspected deaths to 588 since March 15 this year. The recent fatalities were all classified as suspected cases, with the number of confirmed deaths remaining at 90 and suspected deaths rising to 498. The Directorate General of Health Services reported 1,134 suspected measles cases in the last 24 hours, totaling 72,070 suspected cases.
Amid the escalating health crisis, Bangladesh continues to witness a surge in measles cases and deaths despite the recent measles-rubella vaccination drive. The country recorded 45 new confirmed cases, pushing the total to 9,094. Daily cases have consistently exceeded 1,000 per day over the past month, except for a few days. The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) had warned about vaccine shortages to the previous interim government, emphasizing the potential for a major health crisis.
UNICEF representative Rana Flowers highlighted the agency’s repeated warnings to address the vaccine shortage issue, dating back to 2024. Despite multiple letters and meetings with health authorities, the warnings were not heeded. Ted Chaiban, Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, also raised concerns over vaccine shortages during a meeting with the Foreign Ministry in Bangladesh last year. The UN agency has pledged to support the investigation initiated by the current Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led government regarding the measles outbreak.
