Bangladesh reports 11 more child deaths due to measles, symptoms with 54 new cases

Two of the latest fatalities are confirmed measles cases

Bangladesh has recorded 11 more deaths of children due to measles and its symptoms amid soaring hospitalisations across the country.

Of the latest fatalities, two were confirmed cases of measles, while the remaining nine died with symptoms of the disease, according to the daily measles bulletin by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Friday.

The health directorate also reported 54 new confirmed measles cases over the last 24 hours.

According to the DGHS, a total of 85 people have died from confirmed measles cases across the country since Mar 15.

Measles symptoms, on the other hand, claimed 414 people, mostly children, over the same period.

Dhaka Division has recorded the highest number of symptom-related fatalities, with 160 deaths, followed by Rajshahi Division, which reported 79 deaths.

The health directorate revealed that 1,261 people sought hospital care with measles symptoms in the last 24 hours. Among them, 1,104 patients were admitted.

Dhaka’s hospitals came under the most strain, admitting 449 new symptomatic patients during the period.

Rangpur Division recorded the lowest hospital admission, with only six patients requiring care.

Bangladesh has so far reported 60,540 suspected measles cases, while the number of laboratory-confirmed cases has reached 8,329.