DHAKA: The number of deaths linked to measles and measles-like symptoms in Bangladesh has climbed to 1,030 after eight more children died on Monday, health authorities said.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), four of the latest fatalities occurred in the capital, Dhaka.
The Dhaka division has recorded 482 deaths, accounting for a significant proportion of the country’s reported fatalities during the outbreak.
Meanwhile, authorities said the number of people showing measles-related symptoms has reached 172,720, while laboratory-confirmed cases stand at 20,124.
Low Vaccination Coverage Complicates Outbreak Response
Bangladesh, a densely populated South Asian country of about 175 million people, has struggled to control the outbreak amid insufficient vaccination coverage.
According to the World Health Organization, Bangladesh previously maintained herd immunity against measles but lost that protection in recent years as vaccination rates declined.
Consequently, health authorities have intensified immunisation efforts as they attempt to limit infections and protect children from the highly contagious disease.
Nearly 19.5 Million Children Receive Vaccines
Since April, Bangladesh’s Health Ministry has immunised nearly 19.48 million children through a special vaccination campaign in addition to its routine immunisation programme.
The expanded campaign aims to close vaccination gaps and reduce the number of children vulnerable to infection.
However, the continuing increase in reported deaths and symptomatic cases highlights the scale of the public health challenge facing authorities.
Moreover, the concentration of fatalities in the Dhaka division underscores concerns about transmission in heavily populated areas.
Health authorities are continuing vaccination and outbreak-control efforts as Bangladesh works to restore broader protection against measles and prevent further deaths among children.
