Dhaka, May 11: The measles outbreak in Bangladesh continues to escalate. Recently, 11 more individuals succumbed to the disease, bringing the total confirmed and suspected deaths to 409. Local media reported this figure based on data from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) as of Sunday.
The DGHS confirmed that four of these deaths were directly caused by measles, raising the total confirmed fatalities since March 15 to 65. Additionally, seven other deaths were linked to suspected cases, increasing the overall count of suspected deaths to 344.
According to the Dhaka Tribune, during the same 24-hour period, 1,503 new suspected measles cases were reported. This brings the total number of suspected cases since March 15 to 49,159, with 205 cases confirmed as measles, resulting in a total of 6,819 confirmed cases.
Reports indicate that since mid-March, hospitals have admitted 34,909 patients exhibiting measles symptoms. Following the deaths of over 400 individuals since March, a report has labeled this outbreak as a “preventable crisis.” The report calls for accountability from the previous interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, accusing it of dismantling an effective vaccine procurement system without establishing an alternative.
An editorial in The Daily Star stated, “For two decades, measles vaccination coverage in Bangladesh steadily increased, becoming an international model for low-income countries. However, the negligence of the previous interim government has squandered this achievement.”
The report noted that the ‘Health, Population, and Nutrition Sector Program,’ in place since 1998, was terminated in March 2025 without a proper alternative plan. It highlighted that during the interim government’s tenure, the vaccine procurement process stalled, supply to over 14,000 community clinics diminished, and emergency stockpiles were depleted, exacerbating the situation.
Criticizing the interim government, the report stated, “The lack of accountability demands an investigative committee with the authority to assign personal responsibility. The deaths of children are profoundly tragic. Those who terminated this program must answer for every death.”
My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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