Bangladesh recorded 16 more deaths with measles-like symptoms in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of such deaths this year to 528. According to the Directorate General of Health Services, more than 1,300 new suspected cases were also reported during the period. Since March this year, the country has confirmed over 8,600 measles cases, while suspected infections have crossed 63,000 nationwide.
Amid the worsening outbreak, UNICEF said it had repeatedly warned the interim government led by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus about possible vaccine shortages and disruptions in immunisation. According to reports, delays in vaccine procurement contributed to supply shortages and affected routine vaccination programmes.
The outbreak, which began in Rohingya refugee camps near the Myanmar border, has now spread to 58 of Bangladesh’s 64 districts, with more than 21,000 hospitalisations reported so far. The World Health Organization has warned of a significant risk of the disease spreading to neighbouring Myanmar and India. Bangladesh has now resumed vaccine procurement through UNICEF and launched emergency vaccination drives across the country.
