The government is going to start a special vaccination campaign today (Sunday) across 30 upazilas in 18 districts, as six more people (confirmed and suspected) died in measles and 787 new were affected with measles-like symptoms in last 24 hours.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has taken the special vaccine campaign for the children aged 6 months to 59 months, who will be given measles-rubella vaccination on a priority basis.
The campaign has been launched in 30 upazilas after identifying the risky areas following advices of national and international experts.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain shared the information at a press conference at the ministry on Saturday. He claimed that the situation remains under control and urged the people not to panic.
He said all children of the specified age (6-59 months) will be vaccinated against measles, according to the rules of the vaccination centre. Along with the vaccine, they will be given vitamin A capsules.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health said the children, who have fever or are currently sick, have been advised not to get vaccinated at present, but to get it after they recover.
The health minister said only the children who are sick will receive the vitamin A capsule. Those, who have already received the measles vaccine under the regular vaccination programme, can also participate in this special campaign. Even if the vaccine is taken multiple times, there is no risk of side effects or problems in the body.
"About 82 per cent of the infected are children from six months to five years. For this reason, all the children between six months to 59 months are being vaccinated in the first phase. In addition to the previous vaccination centres, the campaign will be conducted at locally-designated places, schools and community centres."
Although the campaign will initially be started in the high-risk areas, it will be gradually expanded throughout the country. It will be implemented as part of the regular programme by July, he added.
Among others present at the press conference were State Minister for Health Dr. M A Muhith.
Meanwhile, in the past 24 hours, six more people, including two confirmed cases and four with symptoms of airborne measles, died across the country. And, 787 more people have been found to have symptoms of the disease during this period.
The number of confirmed measles patients in the last 24 hours is 60, according to the DGHS on Saturday. The number of suspected measles patients from March 15 this year to Saturday (April 4) rose to 6,476. With them, the number of confirmed measles patients during the period rose to 826.
A total of 114 died so far (from March 15), of whom 16 were confirmed measles patients and 98 were suspected patients. A total of 4,628 suspected measles patients have been admitted to hospitals from March 15 until Saturday. And during this period, 2,654 have recovered and been discharged from the hospitals.
So far, the highest of 2,045 suspected measles patients have been admitted to the hospitals in Dhaka division, according to the DGHS.
Meanwhile, our correspondent adds, three more children died with measles-like symptoms at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) over the past 24 hours, from Friday noon to Saturday noon, while undergoing treatment.
The information was confirmed on Saturday by the hospital's spokesperson and in-charge of the emergency department, Dr Shankar Kumar Biswas.
He said 25 new children with measles-like symptoms were admitted during the period, while three others were discharged after recovery. Currently, 149 children with suspected measles are receiving treatment at the hospital.
A total of 377 patients have so far been treated in the measles isolation ward. Of them, 38 children have died while undergoing treatment.
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