Bangladesh is facing a renewed rise in measles cases and hospital admissions, according to health figures reported on Monday. In the first 26 days of September, the country recorded an average of 1,229 cases a day, higher than its daily average in May and every intervening month.
Hospital admissions have followed the same pattern, averaging 1,072 a day in September. Health authorities also recorded 1,341 confirmed and suspected cases in the latest 24-hour reporting period cited by The Daily Star. Nine more people died with measles-like symptoms during that period, taking the reported death toll in the outbreak to 1,096. Most of those who died were children.
The increase comes despite an emergency vaccination campaign earlier this year and a follow-up drive in July. Cases initially declined but began climbing again in August. Public health experts have pointed to gaps in vaccination coverage and delays in identifying and isolating infected children as concerns.
The government has launched another campaign aimed at around 3.4 million unvaccinated children aged six to 59 months. Experts caution that its effect will take time: children generally need several weeks after vaccination to develop adequate protection. The latest figures make reaching missed children and managing the pressure on hospitals urgent priorities for health authorities.
