Measles infections have started to decline in 30 upazilas across 18 districts identified as hotspots, following an accelerated government vaccination campaign to contain the outbreak.
Health officials said daily case numbers in most of these upazilas have now fallen to single digits, reports BSS.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), measles infections among children have significantly decreased in areas where vaccination drives were first carried out. The special campaign began on 5 April, targeting children aged 5 to 59 months.
Officials said the programme has led to a noticeable reduction in new infections in high-risk areas.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain said the vaccination drive in the 30 hotspot upazilas has brought measles cases “almost to zero”. He added that the disease is now under control nationwide.
World Health Organization representative Chiranjit Das said vaccines generally take two to three weeks to become effective. He said data showed that after the campaign began on 5 April, new infections in hotspot upazilas had nearly disappeared, with cases starting to fall sharply after 17 April. He described the trend as clear evidence of vaccine effectiveness. Similar improvements have also been seen in five city corporations.
Prime Minister’s Special Assistant for Health Affairs SM Ziauddin Hyder said the overall child mortality rate from measles remains stable. He said full benefits of the vaccination campaign would take several more weeks as antibodies typically take three to four weeks to develop.
DGHS Director General Pravath Chandra Biswas told BSS that measles infections have significantly declined in areas where the campaign was first implemented.
In Chapainawabganj, a BSS correspondent reported a sharp rise in cases earlier this year. After two hospital admissions in January and five in February, infections increased rapidly in March. In April, the situation almost reached epidemic levels, with around 100 patients admitted daily. At present, admissions have dropped to 8 to 10 patients per day.
Chapainawabganj Civil Surgeon AKM Shahab Uddin said the severity of the outbreak in the district has declined significantly.
District Hospital Superintendent Mashiur Rahman said recent admission figures show the outbreak is now subsiding.
In Natore, BSS reported that the special vaccination campaign in Sadar Upazila has restored public confidence. No deaths or serious complications from measles have been reported recently.
Natore District Civil Surgeon Dr Muhammad Mashiur Rahman told BSS that 100 percent of targeted children in Natore Sadar Upazila received measles-rubella vaccines under the special campaign. He said this has improved immunity, reduced cases, and raised public awareness, bringing relief to residents.
In Pabna, Civil Surgeon Md Abul Kalam Azad said that children are still contracting measles, but the number of cases has fallen significantly. He said hospital admissions dropped from around 19–21 cases per day in March to 8–10 cases per day at present.
