Photo courtesy of Anadolu
Bangladesh’s prolonged measles outbreak has left nearly 1,000 children dead since mid-March, as health officials prepare another nationwide vaccination campaign to curb the spread of the disease.
Four additional children died from measles or illnesses showing similar symptoms during the latest 24-hour reporting period, raising the overall toll to 991, according to the Directorate General of Health Services.
Of the fatalities recorded since the outbreak began, 100 have been confirmed as measles deaths. Dhaka division accounted for 464 of the total deaths reported nationwide.
The outbreak also continues to generate hundreds of new infections. Authorities recorded another 843 children with measles-like symptoms and 74 laboratory-confirmed cases.
Those additions brought the cumulative count to 163,105 symptomatic cases and 19,641 confirmed infections. More than 143,000 affected children have required hospital treatment since mid-March.
Government figures showed that 137,921 hospitalized children had recovered and been discharged.
The World Health Organization said declining immunization coverage had eroded the herd immunity Bangladesh previously maintained against measles, leaving more children vulnerable to infection.
Bangladesh has administered additional vaccinations to nearly 19.48 million children since April 5 alongside its routine immunization program. Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain said another special nationwide vaccination drive would begin later this month.