About two-thirds of children under five, who got admitted to Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute with measles, were malnourished, according to a study carried out on 354 children.

Wrong decisions and negligence are to blame for the ongoing crisis.

Strengthen social protection alongside disease control

The country yesterday recorded its highest-ever daily hospitalisation of measles patients since the outbreak began in mid-March, raising fresh concerns about the persistence of the outbreak two months after the nationwide measles vaccination campaign.

The government must urgently eliminate Aedes breeding, add treatment facilities nationwide.

The government is set to launch its nationwide Vitamin A Plus Campaign on June 28, targeting 2.40 crore children aged six months to under five years -- 58 lakh more than the target set for the measles-rubella campaign for the same age bracket earlier this year.

Bangladesh is facing a painful reminder of what happens when everyday healthcare is overlooked.

Measles, once considered largely under control, has returned with alarming force across the globe.

'An investigation is underway,' the health secretary said at a programme today

The actual number of measles deaths is likely higher than the central tally, as data from two divisional offices of the health directorate show at least 34 more suspected deaths than reported in the official figures.

The World Health Organization has assessed the national risk of the ongoing measles outbreak as high, citing continued transmission, a large pool of susceptible children, immunity gaps, and suspected measles-related deaths.

The ongoing measles situation has been a wake-up call for us all, but it should be especially so for the country’s health sector.

Combat Bangladesh measles outbreaks by prioritizing EPI vaccines and identifying early fever or maculopapular rashes. Dr Syed Abu Sayeed emphasizes MR1 and MR2 doses to restore herd immunity, preventing severe pneumonia or paediatric encephalitis cases.

Sonia Akhter was trying to cool down her nine-month-old daughter, Tasnia, who seemed restless with measles and fever at the dedicated measles ward of Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute in the capital.

Those responsible for the measles outbreak must be held accountable