Bangladesh: Catastrophe Strikes As 656 Children Die, 972 New Cases In 24 Hours

New Delhi: In our eastern neighbor, Bangladesh, innocent lives are in peril as a deadly measles outbreak continues to escalate. So far, 656 children have lost their lives across the country, while the number of suspected cases has risen to 86,923. In the last 24 hours alone, 972 cases of measles infection have been reported, and four children have died during this period, bringing the total death toll to 656.

According to a report by the 'Dhaka Tribune', four more children died due to measles or measles-like symptoms in the 24 hours leading up to 8:00 AM on Monday (June 15), raising the total death toll to 656. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) of Bangladesh has classified one of these new deaths as a confirmed case of measles and the other three as suspected cases. Meanwhile, the number of laboratory-confirmed measles deaths stands at 93.

How Many Patients Have Been Hospitalized?

According to DGHS data, a total of 71,467 patients exhibiting suspected measles symptoms have been hospitalized across the country since March 15; of these, 67,878 have recovered. During this period, 64 new confirmed cases of measles were recorded, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 10,387.

Is This a Pandemic?

It is worth noting that measles is not a 'pandemic' in itself; rather, it is a highly contagious viral disease that periodically spreads as localized outbreaks in various parts of the world. It primarily affects children and can be entirely prevented through vaccination (MMR). It is one of the fastest-spreading diseases in the world. The virus can survive in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person coughs or sneezes.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of the disease include high fever, a persistent runny nose, a continuous cough, red eyes (conjunctivitis), and a red rash covering the entire body. The MMR vaccine is the most effective and safe measure for prevention. In recent years, a sudden surge in cases has been observed in many countries across the world. The primary reason for this is the lack of vaccination among children.