Bangladesh Measles Outbreak: 729 Children Dead in Three and a Half Months

The number of children suffering from measles and its symptoms continues to rise across Bangladesh, with the death toll reaching 729 over the past three and a half months.

According to an updated Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) report released on Friday (July 3), five more children died with measles-like symptoms in the last 24 hours. No new laboratory-confirmed measles deaths were reported during this period.

Between March 15 and July 3, the outbreak claimed 729 young lives. Of these, 93 were lab-confirmed measles fatalities, while the remaining 636 died presenting symptoms of the disease.

The DGHS also reported 1,107 new infections in the past 24 hours, including 139 lab-confirmed cases and 968 suspected cases. This brings the total number of suspected measles patients nationwide to 103,961 since mid-March. Among them, 12,425 have been officially confirmed through laboratory testing.

The widespread outbreak has led to the hospitalization of 87,262 children, though there is a positive trend in recoveries—83,543 children have successfully recovered and returned home after receiving treatment.

Public health experts stress that ensuring timely measles vaccination is critical to bringing the situation under control. They urge parents to seek immediate hospital care as soon as symptoms appear, warning that malnourished children face a significantly higher risk of severe complications.