Dhaka, June 14 (IANS) Bangladesh is battling two serious infectious diseases. While 652 children have lost their lives due to measles or similar symptoms, 135 new cases of dengue have also been reported. Infectious disease outbreaks are thus becoming increasingly serious in Bangladesh, where both dengue and measles have put a huge strain on the health system.
English daily Dhaka Tribune quoted health officials as saying that 135 new cases of dengue have been registered in the last 24 hours. This information was given by the spokesperson of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The highest number of new cases, 37, were found in Barishal division, while 10 were reported in Chattogram, 14 in Dhaka division, 2 in Dhaka North City Corporation, 15 in Dhaka South City Corporation, 35 in Khulna, 8 in Mymensingh, 11 in Rajshahi and 3 in Sylhet.
So far this year, 6 people have died due to dengue, while a total of 4,201 people have been infected. For comparison, 413 deaths and 1,02,861 infections were recorded last year, while 575 deaths and 1,01,214 infections were reported in 2024.
Meanwhile, the measles outbreak also remains serious in the country. Bangladeshi news agency UNB reported that four more child deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of suspected and confirmed measles-related deaths to 652.
According to DGHS, the number of suspected measles deaths so far stands at 560 and 92 confirmed measles deaths. In just 24 hours (from Saturday to Sunday 8am), 1,052 new suspected cases were reported, taking the total to 85,951, while 75 new confirmed cases took the total to 10,323.
Since March 15, 70,579 patients have been admitted to the hospital, out of which 66,841 patients have recovered and returned home.
The increase in cases of both dengue and measles in Bangladesh poses a serious challenge to the public health system.
–IANS
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