Dhaka, June 28 (IANS). Measles continues to wreak havoc in Bangladesh. In the last 24 hours till 8 am on Sunday, 4 innocent people died. Along with this, 712 children have lost their lives so far due to measles like symptoms.
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has categorized these four deaths as suspected measles deaths. It said none of the four were confirmed measles cases.
According to government data, so far 619 children have died due to suspected infection, while the number of deaths due to lab-confirmed measles remains stable at 93.
941 new suspected cases of measles were reported in the last 24 hours. During this period, 889 infected people were admitted to the hospital and 865 children were discharged. In the same period (last 24 hours), 116 new confirmed cases were recorded.
The total number of suspected cases across the country has increased to 99,207. The total number of lab tested confirmed cases reached 11,710.
According to DGHS, 82,844 suspected measles patients have been admitted to hospitals across the country since April 10. Of these, 79,152 patients have recovered and been discharged from the hospital.
Bangladesh’s leading newspaper ‘The Daily Star’ quoted health experts as saying that there are two main reasons for the lack of decline in measles cases in Bangladesh. First, the target of 95 percent vaccination coverage has not been achieved in all areas, and second, infection prevention and control measures are not being adequately followed in hospitals and communities. This information was given by Bangladesh’s leading newspaper The Daily Star.
Earlier this month, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had alleged that the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government disrupted the country’s vaccination program in the process of implementing a new vaccine procurement system, thereby exacerbating the measles outbreak.
–IANS
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