Play store
Seven more children have died with symptoms of measles across Bangladesh in the past 24 hours, taking the combined death toll from confirmed measles and measles-like illnesses to 950 since March 15.
According to the latest measles update issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Wednesday afternoon, 1,171 children were reported with confirmed measles or measles-like symptoms during the 24-hour period.
Of the seven latest deaths, none was confirmed as having been caused by measles. The deaths were recorded among children presenting symptoms associated with the disease.
Since March 15, a total of 851 children have died with measles-like symptoms, while another 99 children have died after being diagnosed with measles.
The combined death toll from confirmed measles and suspected measles cases now stands at 950, according to the DGHS data.
During the latest 24-hour period, 73 children tested positive for measles, while another 1,098 children were reported with measles-like symptoms.
The health authorities also reported a continued heavy burden on hospitals. A total of 1,019 children were admitted to hospitals with measles or related symptoms during the period, while 954 patients were discharged after treatment.
The latest figures indicate that the outbreak continues to put significant pressure on the country’s health facilities, particularly those treating children with severe symptoms and complications.
The distinction between confirmed measles deaths and deaths involving measles-like symptoms remains important in assessing the scale of the outbreak. While the DGHS has confirmed 99 measles-related deaths since March 15, a much larger number of deaths has been recorded among patients who presented symptoms associated with the disease but whose cases were not confirmed as measles.
The continued reporting of deaths among symptomatic children, alongside more than a thousand new cases being admitted or reported each day, highlights the need for sustained surveillance, early diagnosis and timely treatment.
The health authorities are continuing to monitor the situation through hospitals and health facilities across the country as the outbreak remains a major public health concern.