Eight more children died of measles and measles-like symptoms in the past 24 hours until Thursday morning, according to health authorities.
With the latest daily tally, the total fatalities from the infectious disease reached 206 in the country during the last one month since March 15, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) reported in its daily bulletin.
Of the total deaths, 34 were confirmed as measles and 172 others died with measles-like symptoms.
Among the deaths in the past 24 hours, two children died of confirmed measles infections and six died from the suspected infections, the DGHS data revealed.
During the same period, 1283 new cases were reported in the country, with the total infections rising to 20,352 since March 15.
The total number of confirmed cases climbed to 3,065, out of the suspected cases, according to the DGHS.
A total of 13,129 measles patients were admitted to hospitals across the country since March 15, of whom 10,496 recovered, the DGHS said.
Following the outbreak of the virus, the government is conducting a special measles vaccination campaign in 18 districts and four cities, including the Dhaka south and north city corporations.
The vaccination campaign will begin in the rest of the country from April 20.
Children aged between six and 59 months will come under the coverage of the vaccination programme, in a bid to prevent the disease.
Measles virus has become powerful as herb immunity in the country weekend amid low vaccination coverage, according to health specialists.
Globally, measles infections see a rise in the summer. But Bangladesh is experiencing an aggravated and deadly measles outbreak primarily due to low vaccine coverage, they said, adding that many children remained out of the previous vaccination campaign. Hospitals are overwhelmed with patients as the infection continues to spread. They also said disruption in vaccination campaigns worsened the situation. The four-yearly special measles vaccination campaign in Bangladesh, which was scheduled for 2024, was missed or postponed due to severe political turmoil, mass protests, and the subsequent toppling of the government.
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