Measles toll nears 1,100 as dengue deaths cross 200

Bangladesh’s measles death toll is nearing 1,100, with 11 more children dying with measles or measles-like symptoms, while dengue deaths have crossed 200 amid a sharp rise in hospital admissions.

The combined toll from confirmed and suspected measles cases has reached 1,076 since the outbreak began on March 15, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

The laboratory-confirmed toll in measles remained at 101, while suspected deaths rose to 975. Dhaka Division has recorded 439 suspected deaths, the highest in the country, followed by Sylhet with 170 and Rajshahi with 93.

The outbreak remains widespread despite an emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign launched in April and subsequently expanded nationwide.

WHO said in April that the outbreak had spread rapidly because of gaps in immunity, with children who had missed routine vaccinations particularly vulnerable. 

The latest DGHS figures show another 1,157 suspected cases and 113 laboratory-confirmed infections.

Since March 15, authorities have recorded 183,449 suspected cases and 20,851 confirmed infections.

Dhaka again recorded the largest number of new suspected cases, at 382, followed by Chattogram with 238 and Sylhet with 164.

The government is now preparing another vaccination push.

A month-long “Intensified MR Catch-up Vaccination” campaign is scheduled to begin on September 26, targeting 3.4 million children aged six months to under five who missed earlier measles-rubella vaccinations. 

UNICEF has previously warned that declining vaccination coverage has created a substantial immunity gap. Coverage of the second measles-rubella dose fell from 89 percent in 2019 to 80.7 percent in 2023. 

Dengue surges in September

Dengue, meanwhile, claimed six more lives in the 24 hours to 8am Wednesday, raising this year’s toll to 201.

Another 1,868 patients were hospitalised, taking total admissions this year to 67,367. Of them, 62,117 have been discharged. 

September has emerged as the deadliest month of the year so far, accounting for 104 of the 201 deaths — more than the first eight months combined. August recorded 43 deaths and July 36. 

Dhaka recorded 757 of the latest hospital admissions, including patients admitted within the two city corporations, followed by Chattogram with 317 and Khulna with 280. 

At Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, three dengue patients died between September 19 and 22, including two from dengue shock syndrome and one following suspected dengue myocarditis and cardiac arrest.

The latest figures leave Bangladesh confronting a persistent measles outbreak despite months of vaccination efforts while dengue infections and deaths accelerate during September.

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