Daijiworld Media Network - Dhaka

Dhaka, Jul 22: Bangladesh continues to battle a worsening measles outbreak, with health authorities recording an average of nearly four child deaths and more than 800 hospital admissions every day, even as concerns grow over inadequate vaccination coverage and a weakening public health response.

Although the government has stated that it surpassed its emergency measles immunisation target, hospitals across the country are still witnessing a steady flow of unvaccinated children, raising questions about the effectiveness and reach of the vaccination campaign.

Data released by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) showed that during the first three weeks of July, Bangladesh registered an average of 1,005 suspected and confirmed measles cases daily. The outbreak also resulted in around 821 hospital admissions and nearly four deaths each day, underscoring the continuing severity of the health emergency.

Public health experts believe the crisis has persisted due to major immunisation gaps affecting nearly 40 lakh children, the spread of infections among children outside the campaign's targeted age group, and inadequate infection prevention and control measures.

Mahmudur Rahman, Chairman of the National Verification Committee for Measles and Rubella Elimination, said the situation had improved only marginally despite the vaccination drive launched two months ago.

"The outbreak has eased to some extent, but not to the level expected after such a campaign. The authorities do not appear to fully recognise the extent of the remaining challenge," he was quoted as saying by The Daily Star.

The outbreak claimed four more children's lives on Tuesday, taking the total number of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 797 since March 15, according to the DGHS. The latest fatalities were classified as suspected measles deaths.

Hospital data continues to highlight the low vaccination rate among infected children. According to The Daily Star, six of seven children admitted to the DNCC Dedicated Covid-19 Hospital and the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) had never received a measles vaccine.

Asif Haider, administrative officer at the DNCC hospital, said between 80 and 90 per cent of patients currently undergoing treatment for measles had not been immunised.

He added that of the 74 measles patients admitted to the hospital during the 24-hour period ending Sunday, only five had previously received a measles vaccine.

Health experts also pointed to a significant discrepancy between the country's measles-rubella vaccination campaign and its Vitamin A supplementation programme. Mahmudur Rahman said the estimated gap of nearly 40 lakh children suggested that a substantial number of vulnerable children had been left without protection.

Former DGHS disease control director and public health expert Be-Nazir Ahmed described the gap as "astonishing", saying it reflected flaws in setting vaccination targets.

"If the target itself was underestimated, the current outcome was unavoidable," Ahmed observed.

He further criticised the planning and execution of the immunisation campaign, stating that inadequate public awareness efforts and poor communication left many parents unaware of the revised vaccination schedule, limiting the campaign's effectiveness at a time when the country continues to face one of its worst measles outbreaks in recent years.