UNB, Dhaka

Four children died with symptoms consistent with measles in the 24 hours until 8:00am yesterday, taking Bangladesh’s combined tally of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 670.

The Directorate General of Health Services has classified the latest deaths as suspected measles fatalities.

With the latest update, the number of suspected measles deaths has risen to 577, while the number of laboratory-confirmed measles deaths remains unchanged at 93.

A total of 1,078 new suspected measles cases were reported during the 24-hour period, taking the cumulative number of suspected cases nationwide to 90,982.

Meanwhile, 96 new confirmed measles cases were recorded, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 10,869.

Since March 15, a total of 75,156 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country, of whom 71,396 have recovered.

Meanwhile, health experts have urged the government to prioritise the ongoing measles vaccination drive and set up “fever corners” at local health complexes for early screening of diseases such as measles and pneumonia.

They proposed four specific measures: continuing the priority vaccination drive, establishing fever corners at district and upazila health complexes for quick screening, distributing WHO-approved treatment guidelines among all health workers, and raising mass awareness.