Bangladesh Fights Against Measles Outbreak

(SeaPRwire) –   The Directorate General of Health Services in Dhaka has documented ten potential fatalities and 1,248 infections within a 24-hour window.

Bangladesh is currently grappling with a significant measles surge, as government data indicates over 1,000 suspected infections nationwide in a single day.

According to the Dhaka Tribune, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) noted 1,248 suspected and 189 laboratory-confirmed cases between 8 AM Tuesday and 8 AM Wednesday.

During this timeframe, ten suspected deaths were reported, with six occurring in the capital city of Dhaka, which also saw the highest concentration of suspected cases at 505.

From March 15 to April 8, the DGHS has tracked a total of 11,133 suspected and 1,599 confirmed instances of measles across the country.

Medical authorities pointed out that these figures only account for patients at state-run facilities, suggesting the true scale of the outbreak may be much larger.

A sharp rise in infections, fatalities, and hospitalizations has been observed throughout the South Asian country.

To combat the crisis, which has claimed the lives of over 100 children in under a month, Dhaka is implementing urgent measles-rubella vaccination efforts, as reported by the Associated Press.

The government announced that, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), immunization for children between six months and five years of age commenced on Sunday in 18 high-risk regions.

Since launching a major immunization program in 1979, Dhaka has increased its full vaccination coverage from a mere 2% to 81.6% of children.

The WHO describes measles as a highly infectious airborne ailment characterized by fever and respiratory problems, which can lead to grave or lethal complications, particularly among young children.

To halt the transmission of the disease, the WHO emphasizes that a 95% vaccination rate among the population is necessary.