United News of Bangladesh

Five more children have died in Sylhet in the last 24 hours showing symptoms of measles, taking the death toll in the Sylhet division to 47, officials said on Friday morning. They said this is the highest number of deaths recorded in a single day in the division from measles-like symptoms. Of the deceased, two died at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, two at Shaheed Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital, and one at Sunamganj Sadar Hospital. A total of 283 patients with measles symptoms are currently receiving treatment in different hospitals across the division. Although no new lab-confirmed cases were reported in the last 24 hours, 74 suspected patients were admitted to hospitals. Director General of Health Services data shows that 158 laboratory-confirmed measles cases have been recorded in the division between January 1 and May 22 this year. Officials said four of the deceased children were confirmed measles patients, while the rest were suspected cases. Meanwhile, 20 intensive care unit (ICU) beds have been prepared at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital and 14 at Shaheed Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital to treat severe cases.

Nine more children died from measles and with measles-like symptoms across the country in 24 hours until 8:00 am Sturday, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Among the new deaths, three was confirmed as measles-related while the remaining six were listed as suspected cases. With the latest figures, the total number of confirmed measles deaths since March 15 has risen to 61 while suspected deaths to 291, it said . Among the confirmed deaths, the highest three cases were reported in Barishal. Besides, highest three suspected deaths were reported in Dhaka. According to DGHS data, 946 new suspected measles cases were recorded during the reporting period, taking the total number of suspected cases to 47,656. During the same period, 489 new confirmed measles cases were reported, raising the total number of confirmed infections to 6,979. Since March 15, a total of 33,631 suspected measles patients have been hospitalised, 29,746 of them have recovered, the DGHS said.

Dhaka division has accounted for half of the total deaths reported across the country from measles and similar symptoms this year, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Since March 15, a total of 336 children have died from measles and symptoms consistent with the highly contagious yet preventable disease nationwide, with 168 deaths reported in Dhaka division alone, representing 50 percent of the total fatalities, shows the data released by the DGHS on Thursday. Of the deaths recorded in Dhaka, 38 were confirmed as measles-related, while the remaining 130 were classified as suspected. The DGHS data also shows that the division recorded 20,581 suspected measles cases and 4,177 confirmed infections. After Dhaka, Rajshahi and Chattogram divisions reported the second and third highest suspected measles deaths, with 78 and 25 respectively. In the 24 hours till 8:00am on Thursday, 12 more children died from measles and measles-like symptoms, according to the DGHS. Of them, one death was confirmed as measles-related, while 11 were listed as suspected. Five of the suspected deaths were reported from Dhaka. With the latest figures, the total number of confirmed measles deaths since March 15 has risen to 57, while suspected deaths stand at 279. The DGHS data also shows that 1,238 new suspected measles cases were recorded during the reporting period, bringing the total to 45,498. In the same period, 286 new confirmed cases were reported, taking the total number of confirmed infections to 6,208. Since March 15, a total of 31,912 suspected measles patients have been hospitalised, of whom 28,238 have recovered, the DGHS said.

Three more children have died while undergoing treatment with measles-like symptoms in Sylhet, further heightening concerns over the growing outbreak in the division. According to the Sylhet divisional office of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the deaths were recorded in the 24 hours until 8:00am on Friday. Of the deceased, two died at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital and one at Shaheed Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital between 6:00pm and 11:00pm on Thursday, health officials said. The deceased were identified as Mahadi Hasan, 5 months, son of Abdul Mumin of Surma Residential Area in Akhalia of Sylhet city; Mustakin, 6 months, son of Sunnah Mia of South Sunamganj; and Zara, 7 months, daughter of Zakaria from Sureshnagar area under Bishwambharpur in Sunamganj. With the latest fatalities, the number of children who have died from measles and measles-like symptoms in Sylhet division has risen to 23. According to the DGHS, one new measles case was confirmed through laboratory testing during the same period, raising the total number of confirmed infections in the division to 142. In the 24-hour period, 53 more children with measles-like symptoms were admitted to different hospitals across the division in the last 24 hours. As of Friday morning, a total of 241 children were undergoing treatment at hospitals and health complexes across the division, with the highest number. Health officials said laboratory testing facilities remain limited in Sylhet, and patients showing measles symptoms are being treated initially based on clinical signs. Samples from critically ill patients are being sent to Dhaka for confirmation. The health officials a vaccination campaign targeting around 13.5 lakh children is underway. So far, more than 12.5 lakh children have been vaccinated, covering over 96 percent of the target. The campaign will continue until May 20.

Twelve more children died from measles and with measles-like symptoms across the country in 24 hours until 8: 00 am Thursday, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Among the new deaths, one was confirmed as measles-related while the remaining 11 were listed as suspected cases. Of the suspected deaths, the highest five cases were reported in Dhaka. With the latest figures, the total number of confirmed measles deaths since March 15 has risen to 57 while suspected deaths to 279. According to DGHS data, 1,238 new suspected measles cases were recorded during the reporting period, taking the total number of suspected cases to 45,498. During the same period, 286 new confirmed measles cases were reported, raising the total number of confirmed infections to 6,208. Since March 15, a total of 31,912 suspected measles patients have been hospitalised, 28,238 of them have recovered, the DGHS said.    

Two more infants showing measles-like symptoms have died in Sylhet, health officials said on Tuesday. The two infants – one aged six months and the other five months – died at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital on Monday night. Officials said the six-month-old infant hailed from Bishwanath upazila of Sylhet, while the other infant was from Dirai upazila of Sunamganj. According to the divisional office of the Directorate General of Health Services in Sylhet, three children have so far died after being diagnosed with measles in Sylhet division since the outbreak in March. In addition, 15 more children have died with symptoms consistent with the highly contagious yet preventable disease during the same period. Meanwhile, around 200 patients suffering from measles or measles-like symptoms are currently undergoing treatment at different hospitals across Sylhet division. Of them, 83 are admitted to Shaheed Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital, 10 at Osmani Medical College Hospital, six at Sylhet Women's Medical College Hospital, and others at various public and private healthcare facilities across Sylhet, Sunamganj, Habiganj and Moulvibazar districts. Health officials said one new measles case was confirmed through laboratory testing in the last 24 hours. During the same period, 63 new patients with measles or measles-like symptoms were admitted to hospitals across the division.

The country on Monday recorded 17 deaths from measles and similar symptoms, the highest single-day toll since the outbreak of the highly contagious but preventable disease in March this year. Of the new deaths recorded in the 24 hours till 8:00am on Monday, two were confirmed as measles-related, while the remaining 15 were classified as suspected, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Of the suspected deaths, highest 10 were recorded in Dhaka district. With this, the total number of confirmed deaths from measles has risen to 52 and suspected deaths to 259 since March 15. According to DGHS data, a total of 1,302 suspected measles cases were recorded in the past 24 hours. Since March 15, the total number of suspected cases has reached 41,793. Over 81% children vaccinated against measles: Health Minister During this period, 154 new confirmed measles cases were reported, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 5,467. Since March 15, a total of 28,832 suspected measles patients have been hospitalised, while 25,151 of them have recovered.

More than 81% of children in Bangladesh have received measles vaccine and the government is working to achieve 100 percent coverage soon, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain said on Sunday. “We have achieved 81% coverage in measles vaccination. The remaining children will brought under vaccination very soon,” the minister said at a press briefing at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka after the second session of the Deputy Commissioners’ Conference. Measles is currently under control in the country and the death rate has declined significantly, he said. There is an adequate supply of vaccines and distribution across the country is running smoothly, he said. A nationwide emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign was launched on April 20 to vaccinate around 1.8 crore children aged 6 months to under 5 years across the country. Besides, on April 5, the government, with support from UNICEF, WHO and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, launched an emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign to protect more than 1.2 million children aged 6 months to 5 years in 30 upazilas in 18 high-risk districts. Meanwhile, 10 children died from measles and symptoms consistent with the highly contagious but preventable disease in the country in 24 hours till 8:00am on Sunday, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Of the new deaths, one was confirmed as measles-related, while the remaining nine were classified as suspected. Of the suspected deaths, highest four were recorded in Dhaka. With this, the total number of confirmed deaths from measles has risen to 50 and suspected deaths to 244 since March 15.

Ten children died from measles and symptoms consistent with the highly contagious but preventable disease in the country in 24 hours till 8:00am on Sunday, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Of the new deaths, one was confirmed as measles-related, while the remaining nine were classified as suspected. Of the suspected deaths, highest four were recorded in Dhaka. With this, the total number of confirmed deaths from measles has risen to 50 and suspected deaths to 244 since March 15. According to DGHS data, a total of 1,166 suspected measles cases were recorded in the past 24 hours. Since March 15, the total number of suspected cases has reached 40,491. During this period, 95 new confirmed measles cases were reported, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 5,313. Since March 15, a total of 27,816 suspected measles patients have been hospitalised, while 24,090 of them have recovered.

Five more children have died of measles and measles-like symptoms in 24 hours until 8:00am Thursday. Of the latest fatalities, one was confirmed measles death, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). During the same period, 125 confirmed measles cases and 1,170 suspected cases were reported across the country. The DGHS said a total of 18,845 suspected patients have so far been hospitalised. Of them, 15, 728 have been recovered. Between March 15 and April 23, a total of 39 measles deaths were confirmed while another 194 deaths were recorded as suspected cases.