At least four more patients have died from measles in the past 24 hours, with 26 new cases confirmed across the country amid a worsening outbreak, according to health authorities.
In a bulletin issued on Thursday, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said the total number of deaths from confirmed measles infections has risen to 13, while 27 more children have died with suspected symptoms.
Between 8:00am Wednesday and 8:00am Thursday, some 685 patients were admitted to hospitals with measles-like symptoms, including the 26 confirmed cases, the DGHS added.
Since March 15, a total of 585 measles cases have been confirmed, with 13 deaths recorded from confirmed infections during the period.
Overall, 3,709 people have been affected by measles-like symptoms, of whom 2,363 were hospitalised. Among them, 1,930 patients have recovered and been discharged.
Officials said the current situation marks a sharp rise compared to previous years, when only nine cases were reported in 2025 and 64 in 2024.
Against this backdrop, the government has decided to launch a nationwide vaccination campaign from Sunday, lowering the minimum age for inoculation from nine months to six months and extending coverage up to 10 years.
Speaking at an event in the capital on Thursday, Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain admitted that the government was initially unprepared for what he described as a "sudden outbreak like a thunderstorm".
He said gaps in hospital management and poor communication with the ministry contributed to avoidable child deaths, expressing deep sorrow over the fatalities.
The minister said ventilators are being sourced from the private sector, although some remain available in stock.
He made the remarks while addressing the first phase of nationwide hands-on training on bubble CPAP, aimed at managing measles-induced pneumonia in children.
The initiative has been launched by the health ministry in collaboration with the DGHS, Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute (BSHI), and icddr,b to treat respiratory distress linked to measles complications.
Prof Dr Md Mahbubul Hoque, director of BSHI, said icddr,b has developed a low-cost bubble CPAP oxygen delivery system that has significantly reduced pneumonia-related mortality and oxygen consumption costs.
Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, executive director of icddr,b, attended the event as a special guest.
The health minister also urged doctors to uphold professional ethics and play a stronger role in combating the outbreak.
Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Deputy Director Shahriar Sajjad told The Financial Express that vaccines and logistics are already available at the upazila level.
"We will launch the campaign with existing stocks at district and upazila offices, and fresh supplies will be delivered on demand from Sunday," he said, adding that financial and logistical support is being mobilised on a fast-track basis.
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