Measles infections and deaths are rising sharply across the country, with experts attributing the surge to limited healthcare facilities and low immunity among children under five, insiders said.
The number of affected children has increased significantly, with over a thousand new patients admitted with suspected measles in the last 24 hours.
At least 10 deaths were reported between the morning of April 4 and April 5.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the number of measles patients admitted to hospitals rose to 5,470 between March 15 and the morning of April 5, up from 4,628 on April 4, 3,776 on April 3, and 2,363 on April 2.
Suspected deaths also increased sharply, rising from 27 on April 2 to 94 on April 3, 98 on April 4, and 113 on April 5.
Meanwhile, treatment facilities for affected children remain inadequate in several city hospitals, raising concerns of further casualties.
The health ministry has recently designated the DNCC Dedicated COVID-19 Hospital in Mohakhali as a partial measles-dedicated facility.
A visit to the hospital on Sunday found 300 patients admitted, including 72 in the past 24 hours, according to an official. Of them, 56 patients were in the ICU, while one child died from measles-related complications during the period.
Officials said a total of 593 patients have been admitted since the hospital was designated for measles treatment.
Rubi Akhter, mother of a 16-month-old child, said she came to the hospital three days ago as her child had cough and breathing problems. She alleged that her baby contracted measles after being admitted.
The father of a seven-month-old baby said his child is suffering from fever after being infected with measles.
An on-duty physician said only five paediatric consultants are currently working at the hospital, compared to around 30 consultants in gynaecology and medicine.
"We need at least 10 more paediatric doctors," the physician said, adding that although 56 children are in the ICU, the hospital has only 10 ventilators.
The hospital also lacks a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) intensivist, he added.
The hospital authorities could not be reached for comment.
Another doctor said the Director General of Health Services visited the hospital on Thursday, when the need for more paediatric specialists was raised.
At Mugda Medical College and Hospital, a ward has been dedicated to measles patients, where 42 patients were admitted on Sunday against a capacity of 20 beds. The hospital authorities said eight more beds would be added.
At the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH), a total of 565 patients have been admitted between March and April, of whom 26 died, while 458 recovered and returned home.
DGHS data show that from March 15 to Sunday, the number of suspected measles cases reached 7,610, of which 5,470 required hospitalisation.
Md Ali Hasan, a physician at Mugda Medical College, said immunity among children under five -- whether vaccinated or not -- appears to be weakening.
He suggested reviewing measles vaccination programmes over the past five years to assess vaccine quality, adding that ensuring full vaccination coverage could help build immunity within a year.
Meanwhile, the government, with support from UNICEF, WHO and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has launched an emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign targeting more than 1.2 million children aged six months to five years across 30 upazilas in 18 high-risk districts.
The campaign prioritises children who missed routine immunisation and are most vulnerable to severe complications. Efforts will be intensified in densely populated and high-risk areas, including Dhaka and Cox's Bazar.
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