United News of Bangladesh

Four more children have died showing symptoms consistent with measles in the 24 hours until 8:00am on Sunday, raising Bangladesh’s combined tally of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 652. 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 560, while the number of laboratory-confirmed measles deaths remains unchanged at 92. A total of 1,052 new suspected measles cases were reported during the 24-hour period, taking the cumulative number of suspected cases nationwide to 85, 951 Meanwhile, 75 new confirmed measles cases were recorded, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 10,323. Since March 15, a total of 70,579 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country, of whom 66, 841 have recovered, according to DGHS data.

Eight more children have died from measles-like symptoms in  24 hours until 8:00am on Wednesday, raising Bangladesh’s combined tally of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 639. According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the latest eight deaths have been classified as suspected measles fatalities. With the latest update, the number of suspected measles deaths has risen to 547, while the number of laboratory-confirmed measles deaths remains unchanged at 92. A total of 945 new suspected measles cases were reported during the 24-hour period, taking the cumulative number of suspected cases nationwide to 82,029. Meanwhile, 94 new confirmed measles cases were recorded, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 9,927. Since March 15, a total of 66,999 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country, of whom 63,145 have recovered, according to DGHS data.

Another child has died showing symptoms of measles at MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital in Sylhet in last 24 hours till Monday morning, health officials said. The deceased was a 17-month-old child from Madhabpur upazila of Habiganj district. With this, the total number of deaths linked to measles and symptoms in Sylhet division has risen to 66. Of them, four deaths were confirmed as measles, while the rest were recorded as suspected cases, the Sylhet Divisional Office of the Directorate General of Health said on Monday. According to Sylhet Divisional Office, 55 new patients with measles-like symptoms were admitted to hospitals in the division during the same period, bringing total patients to 270. Besides, laboratory tests confirmed three new measles cases in the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, across Bangladesh, seven more children with measles-like symptoms died in the 24 hours until 8:00 am on Sunday. This brings the total number of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths in the country to 620, according to health authorities.

An 18-month-old child has died with measles-like symptoms in Faridpur in the 24 hours till 8:00am on Friday, raising the number of such deaths in the district to 21. The deceased, identified as Tanha, daughter of Din Islam of Hasandia village in Boalmari upazila, was admitted to Faridpur Medical College Hospital on Thursday with symptoms consistent with measles. She died on the same day while undergoing treatment, hospital sources said. Faridpur Civil Surgeon Dr Mahmudul Hasan said 62 new patients with measles-like symptoms were admitted to different government hospitals across the district in the last 24 hours. During the period, 41 patients recovered and were discharged from hospitals, he added. According to the civil surgeon, a total of 178 patients suffering from measles-like symptoms are currently receiving treatment at hospitals in the district.

Seven more children died from measles and with related symptoms in 24 hours till Wednesday morning, raising the fatalities from the disease in Bangladesh to 601. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has classified the latest casualties as suspected. With the latest figure, the total number of suspected measles deaths has reached 511, while the confirmed deaths remained the same at 90, it added. A total of 1,210 suspected measles cases were recorded in 24 hours till Wednesday morning, taking the overall suspected cases to 74,572. During the same period, 55 new confirmed measles cases were reported, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 9,191. Since March 15, a total of 60,158 suspected measles patients were hospitalised, of whom 55,942 have recovered, according to the DGHS data.    

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.

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.

An eight-month-old boy died Sunday after battling measles, as the extent of the outbreak in Bangladesh this year kept growing. Irfan Ahmed, son of Ishtiak Ahmed from the Noorpur area of Kushtia, died at 2pm on Sunday while undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute after a 16-day illness. According to his family, Irfan was first treated at Kushtia Medical College Hospital for seven days before being taken to Dhaka. He was then admitted to the DNCC Hospital, where he received treatment for five days, before being transferred to the Shishu Hospital for more advanced treatment. He was admitted to the ICU last Thursday, but doctors were unable to save him. Meanwhile, Bangladesh recorded eight deaths from measles or measles-like symptoms in the 24 hours leading up to 8:00 am on Sunday.