Dhaka, June 7 (IANS). Measles outbreak is increasing in Bangladesh. Seven Bangladeshi children died from measles-like symptoms in the 24 hours to 8am on Sunday. This brings the total number of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths in the country to 620.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the recent deaths have been classified as suspected measles. With the latest deaths, the total number of measles deaths has reached 529, while the confirmed deaths remain at 91, United News of Bangladesh (UNB) reported.
Bangladesh reported 1,221 suspected cases of measles in 24 hours, taking the total to 79,012. Meanwhile, 66 new confirmed cases of measles were reported, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 9,686. According to DGHS, UNB reported that since March 15, 64,263 suspected measles patients have been admitted to the hospital. Of them, 60,084 have recovered.
Last month, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) said it had repeatedly warned the country’s previous interim government of Muhammad Yunus through letters and meetings with health ministry officials about the vaccine shortage, which could lead to a major health crisis, according to local media.
At a press briefing in Dhaka, UNICEF representative in Bangladesh Rana Flowers said the UN agency sent five to six letters to health officials on the issue and raised the issue in 10 meetings during the time of the previous interim government.
The Daily Star quoted Rana Flowers as saying, “Since 2024, we were warning the government that the lack of vaccine could lead to the spread of the disease. From 2024 to 2025 and 2026, we sent letters, and we had 10 different meetings, indicating that this was a problem and the vaccine needed to be ordered. They couldn’t.”
According to Flowers, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaibon had expressed concern over the vaccine shortage in a meeting with the Foreign Ministry during his visit to Bangladesh in August last year.
He further said that the UN agency will provide evidence to help the investigation launched by the current Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government into the measles outbreak.
–IANS
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