Measles cases expected to decline in four weeks: Health minister

Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain on Monday expressed optimism that Bangladesh’s measles outbreak would improve within the next four weeks as recently vaccinated people begin developing immunity.

“The situation is likely to come under control within four weeks,” the minister said while speaking to reporters after visiting Barishal Sadar Hospital on Monday. He added that the number of measles patients has already started declining in different areas of the country.

The minister said measles vaccination campaigns were supposed to be conducted every four years, but the continuity was disrupted after 2020, which contributed to the current outbreak.

He also noted that the present government initially faced a shortage of measles vaccines but managed to procure them quickly to continue immunisation efforts nationwide.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Bangladesh has so far recorded 50,500 suspected measles cases, including 1,341 new infections reported in the past 24 hours till Monday morning.

The DGHS bulletin also said 350 people have died with measles-like symptoms across the country, including six deaths reported during the latest reporting period.

Since 15 March, authorities have confirmed 6,937 measles infections, including 118 new confirmed cases in the last 24 hours. The number of deaths from confirmed measles infections currently stands at 65, though no new confirmed death was recorded during the latest reporting period.

Meanwhile, a total of 31,992 patients have recovered from the disease so far.

During his visit to Barishal Sadar Hospital, the health minister inspected several service points, checked attendance registers of doctors and staff, and spoke with patients receiving treatment. He also suspended an employee after finding him absent from duty at the hospital ticket counter.

The government continues nationwide vaccination and monitoring efforts as health authorities work to contain the outbreak and reduce further transmission.