United News of Bangladesh

Four more children died with measles and measles-like symptoms in 24 hours until 8:00am on Saturday, bringing the country’s combined tally of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 867 this year. According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), two were confirmed as measles-related while the remaining two were classified as suspected deaths. With this, the total number of confirmed deaths from measles has risen to 98 and suspected deaths to 769. A total of 677 new suspected measles cases were reported during the 24-hour period, bringing the cumulative number of suspected cases nationwide to 135,332. Meanwhile, 99 new confirmed measles cases were recorded, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 17,040. Since March 15 this year, a total of 117,444 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country, of whom 113,200 have recovered, according to DGHS data.

Two children died with measles-like symptoms in Sylhet division in the 24 hours until Friday morning, taking the total number of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 122 in the region. The deceased were identified as Yamin, aged one year and five months, from Sylhet Sadar upazila, and Anisa, an eight-month-old girl from Bahubal upazila in Habiganj. Both died while undergoing treatment at Shaheed Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital in Sylhet. Of the total fatalities, 116 people have died with measles symptoms, while six deaths have been confirmed as caused by measles, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Of the total deaths, 43 were reported in Sylhet district, 14 in Habiganj, 13 in Moulvibazar and 52 in Sunamganj. During the 24-hour period, 93 patients with measles symptoms were admitted to hospitals across the division. A total of 294 patients with measles symptoms are currently undergoing treatment at different hospitals in the division. The DGHS said 788 confirmed measles cases have been recorded in Sylhet division from January 1 to August 7 this year. Of them, 256 cases were reported in Sylhet district, 91 in Habiganj, including two rubella cases, 90 in Moulvibazar and 351 in Sunamganj.

The Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) on Thursday called for a coordinated effort among health, urban planning and local government authorities to ensure a safe and liveable environment for children, warning that the recent measles outbreak underscores the urgent need for child-sensitive urban and regional planning. In a press release, BIP said ensuring healthcare for children is a basic civic right, but equally important is guaranteeing them a safe environment, neighbourhood and well-planned urban and rural settings in which to grow up safely. The professional body of the country's urban, regional and rural planners said there is no alternative to sound urban and regional planning in building child-friendly and liveable cities and rural areas. BIP expressed deep shock and concern over the recent measles outbreak in the country and the resulting infections and deaths among children. Alongside ensuring proper treatment and public health services to prevent such health risks and premature deaths, the organisation urged authorities to pay due attention to developing healthy, safe and liveable urban and rural environments. According to BIP, child health protection cannot be confined to hospitals and treatment services alone. Safe water and sanitation, hygienic housing, adequate open and green spaces, safe mobility systems, traffic control, pollution-free surroundings and easy access to public healthcare are essential components of a child-friendly city and settlement, the organisation said. Planned urbanisation and effective land-use planning can bring these facilities to people's doorsteps, it added. BIP noted that children in densely populated and unplanned urban areas face comparatively higher health risks, which is why urban and regional planning must prioritise child health, safety and welfare through a "Child-Sensitive Planning" framework. It also demanded quality and accessible healthcare for children in cities as well as remote villages. BIP said ensuring a safe urban and rural environment for children requires joint efforts by local government institutions, health and family welfare authorities, urban and regional planners, engineers, environmentalists and other relevant stakeholders. It also stressed the need for effective measures to ensure quality child healthcare in remote and underprivileged areas of the country. The organisation described the recent measles outbreak as an important warning that calls for deeper attention to children's health and safety, urging relevant authorities to jointly consider three key areas: quality treatment, preventive healthcare, and safe, planned residential environments to secure children's right to grow up healthy. Ensuring children's wellbeing is not the responsibility of the health sector alone but a matter of integrated urban, regional and public health planning, BIP said, adding that guaranteeing a safe, healthy and liveable environment for today's children is key to building a healthy, humane and sustainable Bangladesh in the future.

Two more children have died with measles symptoms in Sylhet Division in the 24 hours until this morning, raising the total confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 116, the Divisional Health Department said on Monday. The two six-month-old children, Rezwan Ahmed and Ibrahim, died at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital. One was from Jagannathpur upazila and the other from Sunamganj Sadar upazila in Sunamganj district. Meanwhile, 93 new patients with measles symptoms or suspected measles were admitted to hospitals across the division during the same period. Of them, 45 were admitted to Shaheed Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital, 37 to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, seven to Moulvibazar Sadar Hospital, two to Ragib-Rabeya Medical College Hospital and two to North East Medical College Hospital. Currently, 254 patients with suspected measles are undergoing treatment at different hospitals in the division. According to the latest report of the Divisional Health Department, 116 people have died from confirmed or suspected measles so far this year. Of them, six were confirmed measles cases, while 110 died with suspected measles. Since January 1, a total of 706 confirmed measles cases have been recorded in Sylhet Division.

Four children died with measles-like symptoms in the 24 hours until 8:00am on Sunday, bringing the country’s combined tally of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 844 this year. According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), all the latest fatalities were suspected measles deaths. With the latest update, the number of suspected measles deaths has risen to 748, while the number of laboratory-confirmed measles deaths remained 96. A total of 1,022 new suspected measles cases were reported during the 24-hour period, bringing the cumulative number of suspected cases nationwide to 130,083. Meanwhile, 115 new confirmed measles cases were recorded, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 16,295. Since March 15 this year, a total of 112,620 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country, of whom 108,283 have recovered, according to DGHS data.

Four more children died with measles-like symptoms in 24 hours until 8:00am on Thursday, bringing the combined tally of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 835 in the country. According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), all the latest fatalities were suspected measles deaths. With the latest update, the number of suspected measles deaths has risen to 739, while the number of laboratory-confirmed measles deaths remained 96. A total of 870 new suspected measles cases were reported during the 24-hour period, bringing the cumulative number of suspected cases nationwide to 127,410. Meanwhile, 135 new confirmed measles cases were recorded, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 15,874. Since March 15, a total of 110,182 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country, of whom 106, 053 have recovered, according to DGHS data.

Three more children died from measles and measles-like symptoms in 24 hours until 8:00am on Wednesday, bringing Bangladesh’s combined tally of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 831.  Of the new deaths, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has classified one as confirmed measles fatality while two others as suspected. With the latest update, the number of suspected measles deaths has risen to 735, while the number of laboratory-confirmed measles deaths reached 96. A total of 996 new suspected measles cases were reported during the 24-hour period, bringing the cumulative number of suspected cases nationwide to 126,540. Meanwhile, 79 new confirmed measles cases were recorded, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 15,739. Since March 15, a total of 109,366 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country, of whom 105,198 have recovered, according to DGHS data.

Three more children died with measles-like symptoms in 24 hours until 8:00am on Tuesday, bringing the combined tally of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 828 in the country. According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), all the latest fatalities were suspected measles deaths. With the latest update, the number of suspected measles deaths has risen to 733, while the number of laboratory-confirmed measles deaths remained 95. A total of 799 new suspected measles cases were reported during the 24-hour period, bringing the cumulative number of suspected cases nationwide to 125,544. Meanwhile, 105 new confirmed measles cases were recorded, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 15,660. Since March 15, a total of 108,441 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country, of whom 104,235 have recovered, according to DGHS data.

Six more children died with symptoms consistent with measles in 24 hours until 8:00am on Saturday, raising Bangladesh’s combined tally of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 816. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has classified the latest deaths as suspected measles fatalities. With the latest update, the number of suspected measles deaths has risen to 721 while the number of laboratory-confirmed measles deaths remained unchanged at 95. A total of 613 new suspected measles cases were reported during the period, bringing the cumulative number of suspected cases nationwide to 122,763. Meanwhile, 78 new confirmed measles cases were recorded, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 15,272. Since March 15, a total of 105,298 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country, of whom 101,535 have recovered, according to DGHS data.

Five children died with measles-like symptoms in the 24 hours until 8:00am on Friday, bringing the combined tally of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 810 in the country. According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), all the latest fatalities were suspected measles deaths. With the latest update, the number of suspected measles deaths has risen to 715, while the number of laboratory-confirmed measles deaths remained 95. A total of 950 new suspected measles cases were reported during the 24-hour period, bringing the cumulative number of suspected cases nationwide to 122,150. Meanwhile, 187 new confirmed measles cases were recorded, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 15,194. Since March 15, a total of 104,717 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country, of whom 101,056 have recovered, according to DGHS data.