Six more people have died with symptoms associated with measles in Bangladesh over the past 24 hours, taking the reported death toll since the outbreak began in mid-March to 908, according to the Directorate General of Health Services.

The latest figures were released in the Directorate’s measles situation report on Sunday, 16 August. The report said 1,101 new suspected measles cases were recorded across the country during the same 24-hour period, highlighting the continuing scale of the outbreak.

Since 15 March, a total of 908 deaths have been reported among people affected by measles or displaying symptoms consistent with the disease. Of these, 809 deaths involved patients with measles-like symptoms, while 99 were among people who were confirmed to have measles.

The number of suspected cases has also continued to climb. Health authorities reported that more than 142,000 suspected measles cases had been recorded nationwide between 15 March and Sunday. Nearly 18,000 of those cases have been confirmed as measles through diagnostic assessment.

The figures indicate that the outbreak remains a serious public health concern, particularly because measles is highly contagious and can spread rapidly among people who have not developed sufficient immunity. Children are especially vulnerable to severe complications, although adults can also become seriously ill when unprotected.

Measles commonly causes fever, cough, a runny nose and a characteristic rash. In severe cases, particularly among young children and people with weakened immunity, the infection can lead to complications such as pneumonia, dehydration and inflammation of the brain. The risk of serious illness is also affected by nutritional status and access to timely medical care.

The continuing rise in suspected cases and deaths places additional pressure on health facilities, particularly in areas experiencing larger clusters of infections. Public health authorities generally rely on early detection, case management, vaccination and infection-control measures to contain measles outbreaks.

The latest surveillance figures also underline the gap between suspected and laboratory-confirmed infections. While nearly 18,000 cases have been confirmed as measles, the much larger number of suspected cases shows the extent of illness requiring investigation and monitoring.

With more than 1,100 new suspected cases reported in just one day, health authorities are continuing to monitor the situation closely. The latest death figures are based on reported deaths among patients with measles or measles-like symptoms, with the distinction between suspected and confirmed cases reflected in the official data.