Measles Death Toll Rises As Five More Children Die

Five more children displaying symptoms consistent with measles have died in Bangladesh, pushing the country’s cumulative death toll linked to the ongoing outbreak to 729 over the past 110 days, according to the latest figures released by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Friday.

The latest daily situation report covers the 24-hour period from 8:00 a.m. on Thursday to 8:00 a.m. on Friday. It shows that the outbreak continues to place significant pressure on the country’s healthcare system, with hospitals admitting hundreds of children each day for treatment.

Of the five children who died during the reporting period, two were from the Chattogram Division. The remaining three deaths were recorded in the Dhaka, Rangpur and Sylhet divisions, with one fatality reported in each region.

Health officials also reported 968 suspected measles cases during the same 24-hour period. A total of 851 children suffering from measles symptoms were admitted to hospitals across the country. Dhaka Division accounted for the highest number of admissions, with 301 children hospitalised. Chattogram followed with 181 admissions, while Barishal recorded 137 and Sylhet reported 87. During the same period, 784 patients were discharged after receiving treatment, indicating that many children are recovering despite the continued rise in infections.

The outbreak was first identified on 15 March, when the country’s first measles patient was officially detected. Since then, the disease has spread widely, resulting in a sharp increase in suspected infections, hospital admissions and fatalities.

According to the DGHS, Bangladesh has recorded 103,961 suspected measles cases during the past 110 days. Of these, 87,262 patients have required hospital treatment, reflecting the substantial burden on healthcare facilities nationwide. Laboratory confirmation has identified 12,425 cases as measles, while thousands of additional patients have been treated based on clinical symptoms and epidemiological assessment.

The latest report also shows that 83,543 patients have been discharged from hospitals since the outbreak began, suggesting that the majority of those receiving medical care have recovered. Even so, the continued reporting of new infections and child deaths demonstrates that the outbreak remains an active public health concern.

Of the 729 deaths recorded so far, 636 involved children who died after developing symptoms associated with measles, while 93 deaths occurred among laboratory-confirmed measles patients. Public health authorities continue to monitor the situation through daily surveillance and hospital reporting as efforts remain focused on managing the outbreak and reducing further transmission among children.