A fresh wave of measles-related fatalities has been reported across Bangladesh’s northern and southern regions, with four more children dying within the past 24 hours in the divisions of Mymensingh, Barisal and Sylhet. The deaths add to growing concerns over escalating infections and hospital pressures nationwide.
Health officials confirmed that two children died in Barisal, one in Mymensingh and one in Sylhet, all presenting with symptoms consistent with measles or related complications.
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Rising pressure in Barisal hospitals
In Barisal, the situation remains particularly severe at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital. Between 8:00 a.m. on Thursday and 8:00 a.m. on Friday, two more children with measles-like symptoms died in the facility. Two additional deaths were recorded in the preceding 24-hour period, bringing the divisional toll to 14, including both suspected and confirmed cases.
Over the same 24-hour period, 65 new paediatric patients displaying measles symptoms were admitted across government hospitals in the division. Health authorities report that 110 children are currently receiving treatment, while a total of 1,190 suspected cases have been hospitalised in the region since the start of the year. Of these, 57 have been laboratory-confirmed as measles.
Medical teams are continuing to isolate infected children to limit transmission, although officials warn that the daily influx of patients remains high and persistent, particularly in districts such as Barguna and Patuakhali.
Tragic case in Mymensingh
In Mymensingh, a three-year-old boy died at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital after being admitted earlier this month with measles-like symptoms and additional complications. Hospital sources said the child had underlying health conditions that worsened his condition before his death on Friday morning.
Authorities reported that 20 new suspected cases were admitted within the last 24 hours. Since mid-March, 344 children have been hospitalised with suspected measles in the facility, of whom 262 have recovered and been discharged. Ten children have now died in total, while 72 remain under treatment. A further 23 patients were discharged within the last day.
Infant death reported in Sylhet
A seven-month-old infant died in the paediatric intensive care unit at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital in Sylhet. The child, identified as Dibya, had been transferred from another hospital two to three days earlier in a critical condition.
Doctors confirmed that the infant also suffered from pneumonia and heart failure alongside measles-like symptoms. Laboratory samples have been sent for testing, though results are still pending. This marks the third measles-related child death in the division within recent weeks.
Regional measles situation overview
| Division | New deaths (24h) | New admissions (24h) | Current hospitalised cases | Confirmed measles cases | Total deaths (reported period) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barisal | 2 | 65 | 110 | 57 | 14 |
| Mymensingh | 1 | 20 | 72 | Not specified | 10 |
| Sylhet | 1 | 42 | 103 (suspected) | 40 | 3 |
Growing public health concern
Health authorities across all three divisions continue to emphasise isolation measures, vaccination coverage, and early diagnosis to prevent further spread. Hospitals remain under pressure as new admissions continue to rise daily, particularly among children under five, who appear to be the most vulnerable to complications.
Officials warn that without strengthened immunisation efforts and rapid containment measures, further clusters of infection could emerge in other districts in the coming weeks.