Bangladesh measles outbreak death toll rises to 545 as 17 more children die
Dhaka, May 25
A total of 17 more children have died from measles-like symptoms in Bangladesh in 24 hours till 8 am on Monday, raising the death toll since March 15 to 545, local media reported.
This has matched the highest single-day death toll since the outbreak, which occurred on May 4 with 17 deaths from measles and similar symptoms, leading Bangladesh Daily Dhaka Tribune reported.
According to the data released by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), one confirmed measles death and 16 suspected measles deaths were recorded between 8 am on May 24 and 8 am on May 25.
As many as 64,940 suspected measles cases have been logged in the country since March, out of which 8,719 were confirmed infections.
47,619 patients have so far been discharged after recovery out of 52,585 suspected measles patients who have been admitted to the hospital since March 15, noted the DGHS.
Delayed diagnosis is leading to severe complications and repeated hospital transfers, which are worsening the patient's condition.
"Physicians say early symptoms such as fever, cough and runny nose are often mistaken for common viral illnesses, leading families to first seek care at local pharmacies or small clinics. As conditions worsen, patients are referred to district hospitals and eventually to specialised facilities in Dhaka," noted the report.
Doctors warn that children are critically ill with pneumonia and respiratory distress by the time they reach the tertiary hospital, which is making treatment more difficult and increasing preventable deaths.
Due to a lack of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and specialised treatment facilities, the district hospitals are increasingly referring the critically ill children to Dhaka, the report mentioned.
According to a public health and vaccination expert, isolation of measles patients is essential to prevent further spread.
Families being forced to move from one hospital to another is increasing the health risks, the expert noted.
— IANS
Reader Comments
17 children dying in just 24 hours is devastating. The report mentions families moving from district hospitals to Dhaka because of lack of ICU facilities. This reminds me of the chaos during COVID when even Tier-1 cities were overwhelmed. Bangladesh's health system is crying for investment in ICU beds and trained staff. As an Indian, I feel we must share our best practices in vaccine drives with them. Every child's life is precious. 🙏
This is a massive public health failure. Over 64,000 suspected cases and nearly 550 deaths—and they've only confirmed 8,719 infections? Diagnostic capacity is clearly lacking. In India, we've had our own measles outbreaks in rural areas, but nowhere near this scale. The Bangladesh government must urgently set up isolation wards and train local health workers to spot measles early. Delaying diagnosis by even a day can be fatal, especially for malnourished children.
It's shocking that 47,619 patients have recovered, but the death toll is still rising. That means the treatment is working for some, but the ones who die are reaching hospitals too late. As a mother, I can't imagine the pain of losing a child to something preventable. This is where community awareness matters—parents should know that measles can be deadly and vaccines are the only shield. India and Bangladesh should collaborate on a mass vaccination campaign in border regions.
A Amit S (from an earlier context, but using a name from the list) This is not just a health crisis—it's a governance crisis. Why are district hospitals being bypassed? Where is the emergency response? In India, our National Health Mission has done decent work in strengthening rural hospitals, but even we have gaps. I hope our government offers technical help to Bangladesh. These children didn't have to die. We need to look beyond borders when it comes to saving lives. 🌏 We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.