Four children died with measles-like symptoms in Bangladesh in the 24 hours ending 8 a.m. on Sunday, taking the total number of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths in the country to 788, according to local media reports.
All four of the latest deaths were classified as suspected measles fatalities. With these additions, the number of suspected measles-related deaths has reached 693, while laboratory-confirmed fatalities stand at 95, according to United News of Bangladesh.
During the same 24-hour period, Bangladesh reported 938 new suspected measles cases, taking the total number of suspected infections to 117,648.
The country also recorded 113 new laboratory-confirmed measles cases, raising the total confirmed infections to 14,431.
Since March 15, a total of 100,137 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across Bangladesh. Of these, 96,521 have recovered, according to data from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), as reported by United News of Bangladesh.
Earlier this month, health experts warned that rising dengue cases could further strain Bangladesh's healthcare system, with hospitals already overwhelmed by more than 900 daily measles admissions.
Reports indicate that major public hospitals in Dhaka, which have treated thousands of dengue patients during previous outbreaks, remain heavily burdened by measles cases. Experts warned that any further increase in dengue infections could place additional pressure on limited healthcare resources and affect the delivery of medical services.
The dengue situation worsened in June, accounting for 48 per cent of all reported cases and 72 per cent of deaths recorded so far this year, according to The Daily Star.
Health experts cautioned that both dengue infections and deaths could rise further during the peak monsoon months of July and August unless stronger mosquito control measures are implemented.
Fazle Rabbi Chowdhury, Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at Bangladesh Medical University (BMU), said that although measles cases have started to decline, the reduction has been slower than expected.
He noted that the monsoon has created favourable conditions for mosquito breeding, and dengue cases are already increasing, which is expected to place additional pressure on hospitals.
To prevent the situation from escalating into a larger public health crisis, Chowdhury and other experts urged Bangladeshi authorities to strengthen larval control efforts, expand temporary treatment facilities, and establish dedicated dengue units to manage the dual disease burden effectively.
With Inputs From IANS
