Measles-related deaths rise to 670 amid outbreak

Seven more people died with measles-like symptoms in the 24 hours to 8:00am on Saturday, taking the total death toll to 670 since the outbreak began in mid-March, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Of the total fatalities, 93 were laboratory-confirmed measles cases. Among all confirmed and suspected deaths, 304 were reported in Dhaka, according to a DGHS bulletin.

Meanwhile, health authorities recorded 807 new suspected infections and 80 confirmed cases during the reporting period.

The cumulative number of suspected infections has risen to 91,789, while confirmed cases have reached 10,949 since mid-March, the DGHS said.

In response to the outbreak, which has spread rapidly across the country, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched an emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign on 5 April, targeting children aged between six months and five years.

The government said more than 18.47 million children have been vaccinated since the campaign began and that immunisation efforts will continue.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that affects people of all ages and remains one of the leading causes of death among young children worldwide.

Although measles is generally a mild to moderately severe illness, it can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, diarrhoea, secondary ear infections, inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), blindness and death.

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