STAFF CORRESPONDENT

The government launches a special measles-rubella vaccination drive in Dhaka North, Dhaka South, Mymensingh, and Barishal city corporations today amid a surge in measles cases and deaths.

Around 12.20 lakh children aged six months to under five years are expected to be vaccinated under this initiative, according to Shahriar Sajjad, deputy director of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation.

Dhaka North has the largest target group, with 6,47,208 children expected to be covered. In Dhaka South, 4,65,098 children are targeted, while 62,336 children in Mymensingh and 45,319 in Barishal will also be brought under the campaign.

The special drive will be expanded nationwide from April 20 as deadly measles cases continue to rise. Earlier, the government had rolled out an emergency vaccination programme in 30 upazilas across 18 districts where infections were relatively high.

Amid the outbreak, the Directorate

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