Measles, such symptoms claim seven more lives in 24 hrs

Seven more children died of measles and measles-like symptoms in the past 24 hours until 8:0am on Friday, taking the total casualties to 343 since mid-March this year, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
During the past 24 hours, three children were reported dead from the viral disease in Sylhet and two others in Sunamganj, according to the health authorities.
Of the total fatalities since mid-March, 58 were confirmed as measles cases, the DGHS said in its latest bulletin.
Over 1,494 new confirmed and suspected measles cases were recorded in the past 24 hours, it said, adding that the total suspected cases reached 46,710 and that of confirmed cases rose to 6,490 since, said DGHS.
As many as 32,862 patients were admitted to hospitals and 29,152 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 six months to five years, regardless of prior vaccination status, since April first week.
WHO and partners are supporting the campaign to reach 18 million children, including over 180 000 children in Cox's Bazar.
Over 17 million children have already been vaccinated so far, 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.
Measles is usually a mild or moderately severe disease. However, measles can lead to complications such as pneumonia, diarrhea, secondary ear infection, inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), blindness, and death.
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