The combined number of suspected and confirmed measles deaths in Bangladesh has reached 1,201, with five children dying with measles-like symptoms in the 24 hours till yesterday morning.
Of the total deaths this year, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has classified 1,097 as suspected measles deaths and 104 as confirmed deaths from measles.
A total of 1,307 new suspected measles cases were reported during the 24 hours, taking the cumulative number of suspected cases nationwide to 2,14,551
Meanwhile, 35 new confirmed measles cases were recorded in the 24 hours, pushing laboratory-confirmed infections to 23,157.
Since March 15 this year, a total of 1,90,663 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country, of whom 1,83,042 have recovered, according to the DGHS.
Health experts attributed the continued outbreak to a gap in vaccination coverage affecting children, infections among them outside the campaign’s target age group, and inadequate infection prevention and control measures.