Children infected with measles are being treated in hospitals across Dhaka, where intense heat and overcrowding are worsening an already strained situation for patients and their families.
Cases continue to rise sharply nationwide. According to the latest health bulletin from the Integrated Control Centre of the Directorate General of Health Services, eight people died from measles in the last 24 hours until 8am on Sunday, including seven suspected cases and one confirmed.
Since 15 March, total deaths have reached 259, including 216 suspected and 43 confirmed cases.
At the Infectious Disease Hospital on Sunday, wards remained packed, with limited cooling facilities offering little relief.
A reporter at the scene observed families relying on hand fans and battery-powered devices to cope with the stifling heat. Outside the fifth floor, relatives were seen holding sick children in corridors and fanning them continuously.
Among them was Mohammad Sajal, who brought his nine-month-old nephew Shayan for treatment. He said the illness began with fever and cold before a private doctor diagnosed measles.
The condition later worsened into pneumonia, requiring hospital admission. Sajal said they travelled from Gazipur on medical advice after the child remained ill for several days.
“The heat and overcrowding have made it harder for patients,” he said. “What else can we do? We have to get treatment. Even if it is hot, we must bear it for the sake of the child.”
“The environment is difficult, and there are no beds available, so we are staying on the floor,” he added.
He described the heat as suffocating, saying families have little choice but to endure it while trying to keep children as comfortable as possible.
Another parent, who requested anonymity, echoed similar concerns. “There are fans, but they do not help much,” the parent said.
A duty doctor acknowledged the pressure but said staff were doing what they could under the circumstances. “It is the best we have. We are trying to make them as comfortable as possible,” the doctor said.
Hospital authorities said they are struggling to manage the patient load.
For many families, daily life has become a dual battle against disease and extreme heat, with constant fanning now routine.
Nationwide, suspected measles cases since 15 March 2026 have risen to 32,028, including 1,421 new cases in the last 24 hours.
During the same period, 143 confirmed cases were recorded, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 4,603.
The government’s National Measles-Rubella Vaccination Programme 2026 is ongoing. Since its launch on 5 April, a total of 7,376,995 people have been vaccinated, reaching 99 per cent of the target population.
In the last 24 hours alone, 1,060,593 people received the vaccine. Dhaka South City Corporation and Chattogram have both exceeded their targets, achieving 101 per cent coverage.
Despite progress in vaccination, hospitals continue to face mounting pressure as families seek urgent care for infected children amid difficult conditions.
