Measles toll climbs to 294 with 10 more die in 24hrs

Health minister says 81pc vaccination target met, promises full coverage soon

Ten more children died from measles and measles-like symptoms across the country in the 24 hours to Sunday morning, bringing the total death toll since mid-March to 294, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Of the latest fatalities, one child had confirmed measles and nine others showed measles-like symptoms. The confirmed case died in Dhaka.

Among those with symptoms, four died in Dhaka, two in Barishal, and one each in Chattogram, Khulna and Sylhet.

The DGHS Sunday report also recorded 1,166 fresh cases of measles-like symptoms in children across the country over the same period.

Since 15 March, when the outbreak was first formally tracked, the scale of the crisis has grown significantly.

A total of 40,491 children have shown measles or measles-like symptoms, of whom 27,816 have been hospitalised.

Of those, 24,090 have recovered and been discharged.

Confirmed measles cases stand at 5,313, with 50 of those children dying after a confirmed diagnosis.

A further 244 deaths have been recorded among children showing symptoms.

Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hussain sought to reassure the public on Sunday, saying the vaccination drive was gaining ground and the rate of new infections and deaths was declining.

“You can certainly see that the rate of progression of measles, and the mortality rate as well, have declined significantly,” he told reporters after the second session of the Deputy Commissioners’ Conference at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka.

He said 81 percent of the targeted children had already been brought under measles vaccination coverage since the campaign began on 4 May, and pledged to reach full coverage shortly.

“Within the next two to four days, we will cover 100 percent of our target for measles vaccination,” he said.

The minister dismissed concerns over vaccine availability. “We are sufficiently stocked with measles vaccines.

By the grace of God, we have enough in hand.

So the measles vaccination campaign is continuing,” he said.

He also noted that immunity takes time to develop after inoculation. “It takes a few weeks for antibodies to develop. We started on May 4.

By this time, the process has begun. Antibodies are being created, and the situation is improving,” the minister said.

Sakhawat added that the ministry had sought the support of deputy commissioners across all 64 districts in prioritising public health outreach as part of directives issued at the conference, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman earlier in the day.