Government launches probe into measles deaths: Health Secretary

The government has launched an investigation into the deaths of children from confirmed measles and measles-like symptoms. Health Secretary Md Kamruzzaman Chowdhury said the probe aims to determine whether any negligence contributed to the deaths.

Speaking at an event on Saturday, May 9, he said the government has begun an investigation to determine if there was any negligence in the measles deaths and who is responsible if negligence is found.

He further said the report will be made public once the investigation is completed.

Meanwhile, according to the latest data from the Directorate General of Health Services, nine more children died from measles and measles-like symptoms in the last 24 hours. The death toll has now reached 352 since the outbreak began.

According to the DGHS report, among the children who died between 8:00 am on Friday and 8:00 am on Saturday, three had confirmed measles and six had measles-like symptoms.

In the last 24 hours, 489 new confirmed measles cases were detected, and another 946 children showed measles-like symptoms. A total of 1,435 children have been infected in a single day.

According to the health directorate, three children died after being diagnosed with measles in Barishal. Additionally, among those with measles-like symptoms, three children died in Dhaka, two in Khulna and one in Sylhet.

Since March 15, a total of 47,656 children have shown measles-like symptoms. Of them, 33,631 children have been hospitalised, and 29,746 have recovered and returned home.

The DGHS also reported that a total of 6,979 children have been diagnosed with confirmed measles during the same period.