Dhaka, June 7: The outbreak of a disease resembling measles in Bangladesh continues to escalate. As of Sunday morning, seven more children have died in the last 24 hours, raising the total death toll to 620.
According to a medical bulletin released by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), these recent fatalities are currently classified as suspected measles cases.
The latest figures indicate that the total number of suspected measles deaths has reached 529, while the number of confirmed deaths through laboratory testing remains stable at 91.
In the past 24 hours, 1,221 new suspected measles cases have been identified, bringing the total number of suspected cases to 79,012. During the same period, 66 new confirmed cases were reported, increasing the total confirmed cases to 9,686.
Since March 15, the health department has admitted 64,263 suspected patients to hospitals, with 60,084 of them having been discharged after recovery.
Health officials are urging the public to ensure timely vaccinations for children and to seek medical assistance immediately if symptoms of infection appear. The rising number of cases poses a serious challenge to the country’s healthcare system.
International media reports, including Reuters, indicate that between March and May 2026, Bangladesh recorded over 62,000 suspected measles cases and more than 8,000 confirmed infections.
According to the English daily Daily Sun, most of the affected children are under five years old and many have not completed their full vaccination course. The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF have identified the decline in vaccination coverage as a key factor behind the current crisis.
Measles is one of the most contagious viral diseases in the world. An infected child can spread the virus to nearly 90% of unvaccinated children nearby.
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