Dhaka, June 7 (IANS). The outbreak of a disease with measles-like symptoms is continuously increasing in Bangladesh. The deaths of seven more children were recorded in the 24 hours till 8 am on Sunday, taking the total number of deaths due to the disease to 620.
The recent deaths are currently classified as suspected measles cases, UNB news agency reported, quoting a medical bulletin issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
According to the latest data, the total number of suspected measles deaths has reached 529, while the number of deaths confirmed by laboratory testing remains stable at 91.
1,221 new suspected measles cases were identified in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of suspected cases to 79,012. There were 66 new confirmed cases in the same period, bringing the total number of confirmed cases of infection to 9,686.
According to the Health Department, 64,263 suspected patients have been admitted to hospitals since March 15. Of these, 60,084 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals.
Health officials have appealed to the people to vaccinate their children on time and seek immediate medical help if symptoms of infection appear. The continuously increasing cases have posed a serious challenge to the health system of the country.
According to international media reports, including Reuters, more than 62,000 suspected cases of measles and more than 8,000 lab-confirmed infections were recorded in Bangladesh between March and May 2026.
According to Bangladesh’s English daily Daily Sun, most of the children were under the age of five, and many had not received the full measles vaccination course. The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF have also cited lack of vaccination coverage as a main reason behind the current crisis.
Measles is one of the most spread viral diseases in the world. One infected child can spread the virus to about 90 percent of unvaccinated children in the neighborhood.
–IANS
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