Eight more children have died with measles-like symptoms over the past 24 hours, taking Bangladesh's combined total of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 639, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

 

The latest fatalities have all been classified as suspected measles deaths. As a result, the number of suspected deaths has risen to 547, while laboratory-confirmed fatalities remain unchanged at 92.

 

Health authorities also reported 945 new suspected infections during the same period, pushing the nationwide total of suspected measles cases to 82,029.

 

An additional 94 cases were confirmed through laboratory testing, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 9,927.

 

The outbreak has hammered the country's healthcare system, with 66,999 patients with suspected measles having been admitted to hospitals across the country since March 15. Of those, 63,145 have recovered and been discharged, according to DGHS figures.

 

Children continue forming the overwhelming majority of infections, with children under the age of five accounting for 79% of all reported cases, while infants younger than nine months face the highest risk of infection and severe complications.

 

The virus has now spread across almost the entire country, with active transmission reported in 91% of Bangladesh's districts.

 

Dhaka remains the centre of the outbreak, recording the highest concentration of cases, with other major hotspots including the Rajshahi, Chattogram and Khulna divisions.

 

Public health officials have repeatedly warned that young children, particularly those who have not yet completed their vaccination schedules, remain the most vulnerable as authorities work to contain the outbreak and prevent further fatalities.

 

000