Seven more people have died in Bangladesh in the past 24 hours amid a continuing measles outbreak, with one death confirmed among measles patients and six others reported to have died with symptoms associated with the disease.
According to a health bulletin issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Tuesday, 122 new measles cases were confirmed during the 24-hour period from 8am on Monday to 8am on Tuesday. The latest figures indicate that the outbreak remains a major public health concern, with cases and hospital admissions continuing to rise across different parts of the country.
Health authorities reported that since 15 March, a total of 95 people have died after being infected with measles. In addition, 671 deaths have been recorded among patients showing symptoms linked to the disease during the same period.
Among the divisions, Dhaka recorded the highest number of deaths among suspected measles cases, with 291 fatalities. Sylhet followed with 93 deaths, while Rajshahi reported 89 deaths. The number of deaths from suspected measles symptoms in other divisions included 63 in Mymensingh, 54 in Chattogram, 43 in Barishal, 29 in Khulna and nine in Rangpur.
The health bulletin also said that 868 people with measles-related symptoms sought treatment at hospitals across the country in the latest 24-hour period. Of them, 831 patients required hospital admission, reflecting the pressure on healthcare facilities as the outbreak continues.
Hospitals in Dhaka division admitted the highest number of symptomatic patients, with 319 people receiving treatment. Chattogram division recorded the second-highest number of admissions at 195. Other divisions reported hospital admissions including Barishal with 128 patients, Sylhet with 54, Mymensingh with 53, Khulna with 47, Rajshahi with 24 and Rangpur with 11.
The total number of measles patients admitted to hospitals nationwide has now reached 96,027. Of them, 92,383 patients have recovered and been discharged from medical facilities.
Health authorities said the number of suspected measles cases across the country has increased to 113,244, while confirmed cases stand at 13,735.
Medical experts have repeatedly stressed the importance of timely vaccination, early detection and proper treatment to contain the spread of measles, a highly contagious viral disease that can become severe, particularly among children and vulnerable groups. The rising number of hospitalisations and deaths has prompted continued monitoring by health officials as they assess the situation and coordinate responses at local and national levels.
