At least 11 more children have died from measles infections, including 10 suspected cases, in the 24 hours until Tuesday, with a rising number of new hospitalisations, according to health authorities.
Of the new casualties, eight were from Dhaka division. With this, 21 children have been confirmed dead from measles in the country since March 15. In the same period, 128 more children have died with measles symptoms.
A total of 1,398 patients have been confirmed with measles through laboratory tests from March 15 to April 7, said DGHS.
A total of 9,883 suspected measles patients have been identified across the country since March 15. However, the majority of them have been discharged after recovery.
Meanwhile, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain said on Tuesday that measles vaccination will begin in more areas, including the two Dhaka city corporations as well as Mymensingh and Barishal city corporations, from April 12.
The vaccination campaign will start nationwide from May 3, he added.
The government will continue the vaccination campaign uninterruptedly to maintain public health and keep future generations healthy, the health minister said while talking to reporters after a discussion marking World Health Day at Bangladesh Medical University in the city.
He said that the failure of the previous two governments to vaccinate over the last five and a half years has fallen on the current government. On the first day, vaccination coverage was 76,000 children, of whom 73,000 were vaccinated, achieving up to 96 per cent coverage, he said, adding that UNICEF and GAVI are providing the jabs.
At the discussion, State Minister for Health Dr MA Muhith was the special guest, while Health Secretary Md Kamruzzaman Chowdhury chaired the event.
Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh Medical University Prof Dr FM Siddiqui, and WHO Bangladesh Representative Ahmed Jamsheed Mohamed, were also present.
The health minister said that they have not yet been successful in stopping corruption in the health sector.
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