The government of Bangladesh has initiated an investigation into the causes behind the ongoing measles outbreak and the growing number of child deaths linked to the disease, Health Services Division Secretary Md Kamruzzaman Chowdhury said on Saturday.
He made the announcement while addressing a roundtable discussion titled “Measles Outbreak and the Way Forward” held at Bangladesh Medical University (BMU), organised by the Bangladesh Health Reporters’ Forum (BHRF).
The health secretary said the government considers every death a matter of responsibility and accountability, stressing that each incident will be thoroughly examined. He added that findings from the investigation will be made public once the report is completed.
“The state has a responsibility. Every incident needs to be investigated. We are looking into the child deaths caused by measles, and the findings will be shared after the report is finalized,” he said.
The decision comes at a time when Bangladesh is experiencing a sharp rise in measles infections and related complications.
According to data from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), at least 61 children have died this year from laboratory-confirmed measles infections. In addition, 291 more children have died showing measles-like symptoms, taking the total number of deaths to 352.
DGHS figures also show that between 15 March and 9 May, a total of 6,979 cases were confirmed through laboratory testing across the country.
Meanwhile, health officials reported 47,556 suspected measles cases nationwide during the same period. Of these, 29,746 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals after receiving treatment.
Authorities said they remain on high alert and are closely monitoring the situation to control the spread of the infectious disease.
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