Four children have died from measles or symptoms associated with the disease in Bangladesh over the past 24 hours, while 917 children have been reported with either confirmed measles or suspected symptoms, according to the latest figures released by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Saturday.
The deaths occurred between Friday and Saturday morning. Of the four children who died, one had confirmed measles, while three died after developing symptoms consistent with the disease. The latest figures bring the number of confirmed measles deaths to 100 since the current outbreak began.
Since 15 March, a total of 891 children have reportedly died after developing measles symptoms, according to the health authorities’ latest update. When the 100 confirmed measles deaths are counted alongside deaths involving suspected symptoms, the cumulative figure stands at 991. The distinction between confirmed and suspected cases remains significant because not every death involving measles-like symptoms is laboratory-confirmed as measles.
The latest 24-hour figures also show that 74 children were confirmed as having measles, while another 843 were recorded with suspected measles symptoms. During the same period, 761 children were admitted to hospitals for treatment, compared with 571 who were discharged after receiving care.
The scale of the outbreak has placed considerable pressure on Bangladesh’s health system, particularly paediatric services. Children suffering from measles can face serious complications, especially when the illness is accompanied by pneumonia, dehydration or other infections. Infants and children who have not received adequate vaccination are particularly vulnerable.
The outbreak has been developing since the beginning of the year, with infections increasing sharply from March. The escalation prompted the authorities to launch a nationwide vaccination drive in April, which continued until May. However, more than 3.9 million children were reportedly left without vaccination during the campaign, raising concerns about gaps in population-level protection.
Health experts have linked the persistence of transmission to weaknesses in vaccination coverage. Measles is highly contagious, and outbreaks can spread rapidly when a significant proportion of children remain unprotected. Vaccination therefore remains central to controlling transmission and preventing severe disease and deaths.
The latest DGHS figures indicate that the outbreak remains substantial despite the vaccination campaign and subsequent public-health measures. From 15 March to Saturday, 163,105 people had been recorded with suspected measles symptoms, while 19,641 confirmed measles cases had been reported.
Hospital admissions have also reached a very high level. A total of 143,214 patients have been admitted for treatment since 15 March, of whom 137,921 have already been discharged. The difference between admissions and discharges reflects the continuing demand for hospital care as new patients arrive each day.
The figures underline the continuing challenge facing health authorities. Sustained surveillance, rapid identification of suspected cases, appropriate treatment and efforts to close vaccination gaps will be crucial if the spread of measles is to be brought under control and further child deaths prevented.
