74% of children infected with measles were unvaccinated: DGHS
One child died from measles and measles-like symptoms in 24hrs.
At least 74% of children infected with measles in Bangladesh had not received any vaccine, according to data from the Directorate General of Health Services.
Among those infected, 14% had received the first dose of the measles vaccine, while 12% contracted the disease despite receiving both doses, officials said at a briefing in the capital today (April 29).
Meanwhile, one child died from measles and measles-like symptoms between 8am yesterday and 8am today, according to DGHS.
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During the same period, 1,318 patients with measles-like symptoms were admitted to hospitals nationwide. Of these, 88 cases were laboratory-confirmed as measles.
Speaking at the briefing held at the DGHS conference room, Dr Riad Mahmud, health manager (Immunisation) at Unicef Bangladesh, said the government launched a special vaccination campaign in 30 upazilas simultaneously on 5 April to contain the outbreak.
Three weeks into the campaign, no new cases have been reported in the areas where the programme has been implemented, suggesting the outbreak may begin to ease by the end of May, he said.
Responding to questions from journalists, Professor Dr Pravath Chandra Biswas, director general of DGHS, said no analysis is being carried out into the causes of child deaths from measles from a humanitarian perspective.
He also noted that some testing limitations are causing delays in identifying cases.
Pravath said vaccines under the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) are expected to arrive in the country early next month.
With isolation arrangements now in place at hospitals, infected patients are being treated without the need for transfer between facilities, he added.
"We hope the outbreak will soon pass its peak and the situation will start improving," Pravath said.
So far this year, at least 47 children have died from confirmed measles infections in Bangladesh.
In addition, 227 children have died with symptoms consistent with measles.
DGHS data shows that between 15 March and 29 April, a total of 4,944 measles cases were confirmed through laboratory testing.
According to the latest health bulletin, 35,980 suspected measles cases have been identified nationwide. Of these 20,822 patients have already been discharged after receiving treatment.
