Measles death toll climbs to 432 Nine more dies

Nine more children died from measles and related complications in the 24 hours to Wednesday morning, health authorities said, as the country’s measles crisis continued to deepen with the death toll from confirmed and suspected cases now standing at 432.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said the nine deaths were recorded between 8am Tuesday and 8am Wednesday. During the same period, 1,489 patients with measles-like symptoms were admitted to hospitals across the country, of whom 126 were laboratory-confirmed as measles cases.

At least 69 children have died from laboratory-confirmed measles infections in Bangladesh this year, according to DGHS data. A further 363 children have died presenting symptoms consistent with the disease, bringing the combined toll to 432 deaths.

The scale of the outbreak has grown sharply since mid-March. Between 15 March and 13 May, a total of 7,150 measles cases were confirmed through laboratory testing. The latest health bulletin shows 53,056 suspected measles cases have been identified nationwide since the outbreak began, with 33,832 patients discharged following treatment.

The figures indicate that a significant number of patients – nearly 20,000 – remain hospitalised or under observation, placing sustained pressure on health facilities across the country.

Measles, a highly contagious viral disease, is preventable through routine vaccination. Outbreaks of this scale typically reflect gaps in immunisation coverage, particularly among young children in densely populated or underserved areas. The disease can cause severe complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis and malnutrition, and is most dangerous for children under five.

The DGHS has not yet issued a public statement outlining emergency containment or vaccination response measures in connection with Tuesday’s bulletin.

Bangladesh has experienced periodic measles flare-ups in recent years, but the current outbreak with hundreds of deaths and tens of thousands of suspected cases recorded within two months, appears to be among the most severe in recent memory.

Health officials and child rights advocates are expected to face mounting pressure to accelerate vaccination drives, particularly in rural and peri-urban districts where immunisation rates remain uneven.

Meanwhile, a 20-bed field ward for children infected with measles is awaiting launch at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. The Bangladesh Army is assisting in setting up the ward.

A visit to Dhaka Medical College Hospital this morning, Wednesday, showed that the field ward had been set up in tents beside the Shaheed Dr Milon Auditorium. Four Ansar personnel were on duty there.
Speaking to the media, about the 20-bed field ward for measles patients, the hospital’s director, Brigadier General Md Asaduzzaman, said, “We have established a 20-bed field hospital here for measles patients. But we are not admitting patients there yet. We have not received instructions from our directorate. Once we receive the order, we will start operations.”

The director said that although permission to admit patients has not yet been granted, physicians, nurses, and medicines are ready.