Seven more die of measles, identical symptoms

Total death toll due to the virus reaches 439 since mid-March

FE REPORT | Published: May 14, 2026 23:03:02

Seven more children died of measles and measles-like symptoms in the past 24 hours until 8:0am on Thursday, taking the total casualties to 439 since mid March this year, according to health authorities.
Of the total fatalities, 70 were confirmed as measles cases, said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) in its latest bulletin.
Of the total confirmed and suspected deaths, 192 were reported in Dhaka, it mentioned.
Over 1,363 suspected and 155 confirmed measles infections were recorded in the past 24 hours.
With the latest daily tally, the total suspected infections rose 54,419 and confirmed infections to 7,305 since mid March, said the DGHS.
As many as 39,160 patients were admitted to hospitals and 34,968 of them had returned home after recovery.
In response to a measles outbreak rapidly spreading across the country, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched an emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign, targeting children aged between six months to five years since April 5.
WHO and partners are supporting the campaign to reach 18 million children by May 20, including over 180 000 children in Cox's Bazar.
The government already met the target before the stipulated time and also kept continuing the inoculation campaign as more children are coming to be vaccinated alongside routine vaccination against, said DGHS.
Bangladesh had made substantial progress towards measles elimination before the ongoing outbreak.
However, nationwide stock out of vaccine for 2024-2025 caused an increase in the number of susceptible children and contributed to the current outbreak, said WHO.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease, which affects individuals of all ages and remains one of the leading causes of death among young children globally.
Though measles is usually a mild or moderately severe disease, it can lead to complications such as pneumonia, diarrhea, secondary ear infection, inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), blindness, and death, according to health experts.
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