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controlling the spread of infection of the disease and ensuring protection for children at risk.

He added that the campaign will begin in 30 high-risk hotspot areas from 9:00am today and will gradually be expanded nationwide, aiming to be completed by 21 May, ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.

The 30 upazilas are: Barguna Sadar upazila and municipality; Ishwardi, Atgharia, Bera, and Sardar upazila and municipality of Pabna; Mehendiganj and Bakerganj upazilas of Barishal; Haimchar, Sadar upazilas, and municipality of Chandpur; Maheshkhali and Ramu upazilas of Cox’s Bazar; Nawabganj upazila of Dhaka; Gazipur Sadar upazila; Jashore Sadar upazila; Nalchity upazila of Jhalakathi; Madaripur Sadar upazila; Louhajang, Sreenagar, and Sadar upazilas of Munshiganj; Trishal, Phulpur, and Sadar upazilas of Mymensingh; Natore Sadar upazila; Atpara upazila of Netrakona; Porsha upazila of Naogaon; Shibganj, Bholahat, and Sadar upazilas of Chapainawabganj; Godagari upazila of Rajshahi; and Zajira upazila of Shariatpur.

The minister said 82 percent of measles patients are between six months and under five years (up to 59 months and 29 days), and therefore, the decision has been made to vaccinate children in this age group.

All children of this group will be included in the programme, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated before, he said, adding that a Vitamin A capsule will be provided only to children affected by measles.

However, children suffering from fever or other illnesses would not be administered shots now; they will be vaccinated later.

The health minister will inaugurate the campaign in Nawabganj, Dhaka, while Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed will open the programme in Cox’s Bazar, and State Minister for Health MA Muhit will do so in Pabna.

Talking to this correspondent, Shahriar Sajjad, deputy director of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), said 13.23 lakh children of 30 upazilas have been selected for the emergency vaccination.

Responding to a question, he said they have already supplied vaccines and other logistics to the upazilas.

Meanwhile, of the four deaths in the 24 hours till 8:00am yesterday, three were reported from the Dhaka division, and one from Chattogram.

DGHS also reported 787 new suspected cases during the period, raising the total number to 6,476.

Sixteen deaths have so far been confirmed as caused by measles, including two in the last 24 hours, said the health directorate.

It reported nine confirmed measles deaths on Friday, but updated data raised the number to 16.