The transmission and death toll from measles are rising alarmingly across Bangladesh, with one laboratory-confirmed death and four more deaths from measles symptoms recorded in the last 24 hours.
According to a press release sent on Wednesday by the Integrated Control Centre of the Health Directorate, the child who died of laboratory-confirmed measles was from the Rajshahi division. Among the suspected deaths, two children died in the Sylhet division, and one each in Sunamganj, Dhaka, and Barishal.
The release revealed that since 15 March, a total of 139,125 suspected measles cases have been identified nationwide, of which 17,469 cases have been laboratory-confirmed.
During this period, 99 patients died of confirmed measles, while 786 others died with symptoms of the disease.
In the last 24 hours, 941 new suspected cases and 84 laboratory-confirmed cases were identified. During the same period, 879 patients were admitted to various hospitals, while 847 children were discharged after recovery.
Since 15 March, a total of 121,013 patients have been hospitalised across the country, with 116,827 returning home fully cured after treatment.
A divisional breakdown of the figures shows that the Dhaka division has recorded the highest number of measles infections and deaths, with 61,263 cases and 62 confirmed deaths.
The Chattogram division recorded the second-highest figures, with 26,126 cases and 10 confirmed deaths.
Additionally, 19 confirmed deaths were recorded in the Barishal division, three each in the Rajshahi and Sylhet divisions, and two in the Mymensingh division. No deaths from laboratory-confirmed measles were reported in the Khulna and Rangpur divisions.
Meanwhile, to control the outbreak, the government’s National Measles-Rubella Immunisation Programme has exceeded its coverage targets for 2026.
Against a nationwide target of vaccinating 18,015,064 children, a total of 19,250,863 children have been vaccinated so far, bringing the overall vaccination rate to 106.9 per cent.
Among the divisions, Chattogram recorded the highest immunisation rate at 110.4 per cent. Under the country’s 12 city corporations, a total of 2,049,908 children were immunised against the target, representing a 107.6 per cent coverage rate.
Among the city corporations, Gazipur recorded the highest vaccination rate at 113.8 per cent, followed by Dhaka North City Corporation with a rate of 112.2 per cent.
