Measles claims 2 more lives

Two more children died from suspected measles in Bangladesh in a single 24-hour period, health authorities said on Saturday, as the country’s worsening outbreak showed no sign of abating.

The deaths, recorded between 8am Friday and 8am Saturday by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), bring the toll this year to more than 450 children — 74 from laboratory-confirmed measles and a further 379 who died with symptoms consistent with the disease.

In the same 24-hour window, 961 patients with measles-like symptoms were reported across the country, of whom 108 cases were laboratory-confirmed. Since 15 March, 7,524 cases have been confirmed through laboratory testing.

The DGHS’s latest health bulletin placed the total number of suspected measles cases nationwide at 56,572, of which 36,645 patients have been discharged after treatment.

‘ICU expansion alone will not solve the crisis’
At a press conference in Dhaka on Saturday, public health expert Dr M Mushtuq Husain warned that expanding intensive care facilities — while necessary — would not on its own be sufficient to contain the outbreak.

Speaking at an event titled “Child deaths from measles: Public health crisis and the way forward,” organised by Doctors for Health and Environment at the Dhaka Reporters Unity, he said the crisis could be resolved within a week if infection prevention and proper treatment protocols were enforced immediately.

“The situation can be brought under control within a week if infection prevention and proper treatment are ensured,” said Dr M Mushtuq

Husain, public health expert
Husain alleged that negligence by the interim government had contributed materially to the crisis, arguing that the authorities could not avoid responsibility for failing to ensure adequate treatment facilities, ICU support and accessible healthcare services for affected children.

The organisation said the interim government and the health administration could not evade accountability for the deaths of more than 400 children linked to the outbreak.

Vaccine procurement failures cited
The organisation’s former general secretary, Dr M H Faruquee, levelled further accusations at health authorities, alleging that delays in vaccine procurement and chronic stock shortages were the primary drivers of the outbreak’s scale.

He claimed that no funds had been released for vaccine procurement since December 2024, resulting in serious shortages caused by procedural complications in purchasing and storing vaccines.

Faruquee also raised alarm over the suspension of vitamin A capsule distribution for children aged six months to five years, arguing that the programme’s halt had directly increased the risk of measles-related deaths.

“Vitamin A plays a very effective role in preventing complications caused by measles,” he said.

Fifteen-point demand issued
Doctors for Health and Environment concluded the conference by presenting a 15-point demand to the government.

Among the key calls: strengthening nationwide vaccination campaigns; establishing dedicated measles treatment corners in government hospitals; ensuring uninterrupted medicine supplies; resuming regular vitamin A distribution; and identifying and holding accountable those responsible for negligence in vaccine management.