United News of Bangladesh

Twelve more children died from measles and with measles-like symptoms across the country in 24 hours until 8: 00 am Thursday, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Among the new deaths, one was confirmed as measles-related while the remaining 11 were listed as suspected cases. Of the suspected deaths, the highest five cases were reported in Dhaka. With the latest figures, the total number of confirmed measles deaths since March 15 has risen to 57 while suspected deaths to 279. According to DGHS data, 1,238 new suspected measles cases were recorded during the reporting period, taking the total number of suspected cases to 45,498. During the same period, 286 new confirmed measles cases were reported, raising the total number of confirmed infections to 6,208. Since March 15, a total of 31,912 suspected measles patients have been hospitalised, 28,238 of them have recovered, the DGHS said.    

Two more infants showing measles-like symptoms have died in Sylhet, health officials said on Tuesday. The two infants – one aged six months and the other five months – died at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital on Monday night. Officials said the six-month-old infant hailed from Bishwanath upazila of Sylhet, while the other infant was from Dirai upazila of Sunamganj. According to the divisional office of the Directorate General of Health Services in Sylhet, three children have so far died after being diagnosed with measles in Sylhet division since the outbreak in March. In addition, 15 more children have died with symptoms consistent with the highly contagious yet preventable disease during the same period. Meanwhile, around 200 patients suffering from measles or measles-like symptoms are currently undergoing treatment at different hospitals across Sylhet division. Of them, 83 are admitted to Shaheed Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital, 10 at Osmani Medical College Hospital, six at Sylhet Women's Medical College Hospital, and others at various public and private healthcare facilities across Sylhet, Sunamganj, Habiganj and Moulvibazar districts. Health officials said one new measles case was confirmed through laboratory testing in the last 24 hours. During the same period, 63 new patients with measles or measles-like symptoms were admitted to hospitals across the division.

The country on Monday recorded 17 deaths from measles and similar symptoms, the highest single-day toll since the outbreak of the highly contagious but preventable disease in March this year. Of the new deaths recorded in the 24 hours till 8:00am on Monday, two were confirmed as measles-related, while the remaining 15 were classified as suspected, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Of the suspected deaths, highest 10 were recorded in Dhaka district. With this, the total number of confirmed deaths from measles has risen to 52 and suspected deaths to 259 since March 15. According to DGHS data, a total of 1,302 suspected measles cases were recorded in the past 24 hours. Since March 15, the total number of suspected cases has reached 41,793. Over 81% children vaccinated against measles: Health Minister During this period, 154 new confirmed measles cases were reported, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 5,467. Since March 15, a total of 28,832 suspected measles patients have been hospitalised, while 25,151 of them have recovered.

More than 81% of children in Bangladesh have received measles vaccine and the government is working to achieve 100 percent coverage soon, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain said on Sunday. “We have achieved 81% coverage in measles vaccination. The remaining children will brought under vaccination very soon,” the minister said at a press briefing at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka after the second session of the Deputy Commissioners’ Conference. Measles is currently under control in the country and the death rate has declined significantly, he said. There is an adequate supply of vaccines and distribution across the country is running smoothly, he said. A nationwide emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign was launched on April 20 to vaccinate around 1.8 crore children aged 6 months to under 5 years across the country. Besides, on April 5, the government, with support from UNICEF, WHO and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, launched an emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign to protect more than 1.2 million children aged 6 months to 5 years in 30 upazilas in 18 high-risk districts. Meanwhile, 10 children died from measles and symptoms consistent with the highly contagious but preventable disease in the country in 24 hours till 8:00am on Sunday, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Of the new deaths, one was confirmed as measles-related, while the remaining nine were classified as suspected. Of the suspected deaths, highest four were recorded in Dhaka. With this, the total number of confirmed deaths from measles has risen to 50 and suspected deaths to 244 since March 15.

Ten children died from measles and symptoms consistent with the highly contagious but preventable disease in the country in 24 hours till 8:00am on Sunday, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Of the new deaths, one was confirmed as measles-related, while the remaining nine were classified as suspected. Of the suspected deaths, highest four were recorded in Dhaka. With this, the total number of confirmed deaths from measles has risen to 50 and suspected deaths to 244 since March 15. According to DGHS data, a total of 1,166 suspected measles cases were recorded in the past 24 hours. Since March 15, the total number of suspected cases has reached 40,491. During this period, 95 new confirmed measles cases were reported, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 5,313. Since March 15, a total of 27,816 suspected measles patients have been hospitalised, while 24,090 of them have recovered.

Five more children have died of measles and measles-like symptoms in 24 hours until 8:00am Thursday. Of the latest fatalities, one was confirmed measles death, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). During the same period, 125 confirmed measles cases and 1,170 suspected cases were reported across the country. The DGHS said a total of 18,845 suspected patients have so far been hospitalised. Of them, 15, 728 have been recovered. Between March 15 and April 23, a total of 39 measles deaths were confirmed while another 194 deaths were recorded as suspected cases.  

A nationwide emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign was launched on Monday aimed at addressing the ongoing outbreak. Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain inaugurated the vaccination campaign around 8:15 am at Little Angel Seminary in Jinda Park, Rupganj Upazila of Narayanganj. The initiative aims to vaccinate around 1.8 crore children aged 6 months to under 5 years across the country. According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Bangladesh recorded 36 measles-related deaths until 8:00am on Sunday (April 19). During the same period, 181 suspected measles deaths were reported, while the total number of suspected cases rose to 23,606. On April 5, the government, with support from UNICEF, WHO and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, launched an emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign to protect more than 1.2 million children aged 6 months to 5 years in 30 upazilas in 18 high-risk districts. The World Health Organization (WHO) urged all parents and caregivers to bring their children to the nearest vaccination centre and remains committed to supporting the government and partners to safeguard the health of every child across Bangladesh. In Lakshmipur, the vaccination campaign began at 2,185 centers in the morning . Civil Surgeon Dr Abu Hasan Shaheen inaugurated the programme at the District Sadar Hospital. The campaign will continue until May 10. According to the District Civil Surgeon’s Office, a total of 2,94,205 children are expected to be vaccinated in the district. To achieve this target, 2,185 centres have been set up, including six permanent and 2,179 temporary ones. During the campaign, children aged between six months and five years will be vaccinated daily from 9am to 4pm. The Civil Surgeon has urged guardians to take their children to the nearest vaccination centres to ensure vaccination.    

Nineteen children showing symptoms consistent with measles were admitted to the Chapainawabganj district hospital over a 24-hour period from 12:00am on Tuesday to 12:00am on Wednesday. Hospital sources said children with fever, rash, and cold-like symptoms continue to arrive every day, putting pressure on the 250-bed district hospital. Authorities have already opened an isolation corner to manage the situation, but overcrowding has forced some children to receive treatment on the floor due to a shortage of beds. During the 24-hour period, 44 children recovered and were discharged, while three serious cases were referred to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment. At present, 75 children remain admitted at the hospital with similar symptoms. Since January this year, a total of 721 children have received treatment at the hospital with measles-like symptoms, and four deaths have been reported during this period. Resident Medical Officer Dr Abdus Samad of the hospital said not all cases have been confirmed as measles. In many cases, heat-related rashes along with fever and cold symptoms are being mistaken for measles, causing panic among guardians. He advised that hospital admission is not necessary for every suspected case, urging parents to seek doctor advice and manage mild cases at home if possible, given the ongoing bed shortage.

Ten more patients died with measles and symptoms of the disease in 24 hours till 8 am on Sunday morning, taking the total death toll to 151, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Among the deceased, four were confirmed measles patients, it said. During this period, 1,268 suspected measles cases were reported during the period. Besides, 762 patients were admitted to different hospitals. So far, a total of 10,225 suspected patients have been hospitalised. Among them, 7,656 patients have recovered and discharged from the hospitals, DGHS said. In 24-hour period, Dhaka division recorded the highest number of suspected measles deaths with five. Besides, Dhaka district also accounted for the highest district-level death toll during the period, with five deaths. The DGHS said the total number of confirmed measles deaths between March 15 and April 12 stood at 28. The month-long Emergency Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign 2026 was launched in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) areas on Sunday, amid growing concerns over the spread of preventable infectious diseases. Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain inaugurated the campaign at a function at the Nagar Bhaban auditorium in the morning. Under the campaign, a total of 402,456 children in DSCC areas have been targeted for vaccination. To achieve the target, 540 vaccination centres have been set up across the city, including 90 permanent and 450 temporary ones. Children aged 6 to 59 months will receive vaccines daily from 9:00am to 4:00pm. The month-long campaign will continue until May 11.        

Health and Family Welfare Minister Md Sardar Sakhawat Husain on Monday told Parliament that the recent surge in measles cases in Bangladesh stems from vaccination gaps and mismanagement by previous governments, including the immediate past interim administration. Responding to a notice raised by National Citizen Party (NCP) MP Akhter Hossen, he said the country’s last special measles-rubella vaccination campaign was conducted in December 2020 and has not been repeated in over five and a half years, although such campaigns are scheduled every four years. “As a result, many children, including newborns, have remained outside the vaccination coverage and are now infected by measles,” the minister said. He also clarified an earlier statement made to journalists on March 29, where he had said measles vaccination had not been conducted for the past eight years, which drew concern among field-level health workers. In his notice, Akhter Hossen said suspected measles-related deaths have exceeded 115 in the past three weeks, with 20 confirmed ones. He also alleged that thousands of children have been infected by the disease and highlighted serious gaps in healthcare facilities, including a lack of isolation wards, ICUs, and NICUs at district and upazila level hospitals, particularly in the Rajshahi region. The NCP lawmaker further noted that although measles vaccination in Bangladesh typically begins at nine months of age, children as young as six months are now being infected, sparking concerns over surveillance and diagnosis. In response, the minister said emergency vaccination drives have already begun in 30 high-risk upazilas across 18 districts from April 5 under the directive of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The campaign targets children aged 6 to 59 months, with a goal of vaccinating 1.2 million children in the first phase. “On the first day, 73,000 children were vaccinated against a target of 76,000 in 30 upazilas, achieving a 96% coverage,” Sakhawat said. The programme will be expanded to Dhaka, Mymensingh and Barishal city corporations from April 12, and nationwide rollout is scheduled from May 3. Simultaneously, vitamin A capsules are also being administered. Addressing concerns about hospital readiness, the minister said isolation wards have been set up in government hospitals nationwide. In Rajshahi, an additional 250 isolation beds are being prepared, he said, adding that ICU and ventilation facilities are being strengthened, and a low-cost oxygen delivery system developed by icddr,b is being deployed. Sakhawat also said the government is procuring vaccines on an emergency basis and that the World Bank has assured support, including loans and grants, to help combat the outbreak. In a supplementary question, Akhter Hossen alleged persistent field-level mismanagement, saying despite budget allocations, patients are not receiving adequate isolation or ICU support. He also noted that around 25% of the health sector budget remains unspent, including Tk 11,000 crore in the 2024-25 fiscal year. In reply, the minister said Tk 604 crore in unspent funds from the COVID-19 period is being used to procure additional measles vaccines through UNICEF. He added that all leave for health workers has been cancelled to strengthen field-level supervision, and coordination with development partners, including the World Bank and UNICEF, has been intensified.