Seven more children succumbed to the measles outbreak in Bangladesh on Saturday, bringing the total number of confirmed and suspected deaths to 709 since March 15 this year. The deaths were reported by the Directorate General of Health Services within a 24-hour period leading up to Saturday morning.
Among the latest fatalities, one was confirmed as a measles fatality, while the remaining six were classified as suspected cases. The update has now pushed the number of suspected measles fatalities to 615, with the total of laboratory-confirmed measles deaths standing at 94, as reported by the United News of Bangladesh.
In the same 24-hour span, Bangladesh recorded 744 new suspected measles cases, increasing the total number of suspected cases in the country to 98,266. Additionally, 45 new confirmed cases of measles were reported, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 11,594.
Since March 15, a total of 81,955 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalized in Bangladesh, with 78,287 patients having recovered, according to Views Bangladesh citing the DGHS. Health experts have highlighted gaps in vaccination coverage in certain areas and inadequate infection control and prevention measures as contributing factors to the ongoing measles cases.
Public health expert Mushtuq Husain emphasized that measles cases persist due to insufficient vaccination coverage and poor adherence to infection prevention and control measures in hospitals and communities. The risk of severe complications is heightened as the dengue season approaches, posing further danger to children already infected with measles, as reported by The Daily Star.
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina criticized the previous Muhammad Yunus-led interim government for disrupting the vaccination program while introducing a new vaccine procurement system.
