Measles infections have declined in 30 hotspot upazilas

Measles cases are beginning to decline in 30 upazilas across 18 districts identified as hotspots, following the government’s intensified efforts to curb the spread of the infection.

Relevant sources said the daily number of measles cases in most of these upazilas has fallen to single digits.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), measles infections among children have dropped significantly in areas where vaccination campaigns were launched first.

Under a special drive that began on April 5, children aged between 5 and 59 months were vaccinated, leading to a noticeable decline in new infections in high-risk areas.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain said the vaccination programme carried out in 30 hotspot upazilas across 18 districts has reduced measles cases there to almost zero.

He also said the disease is now under control across the country.

World Health Organization representative Dr. Chiranjit Das said vaccines typically take two to three weeks to become effective.

Statistics show that since the vaccination campaign started on April 5 in the 30 identified hotspot upazilas, new infections have nearly disappeared. Patient numbers began to visibly decline after April 17, which he described as clear evidence of the vaccine’s effectiveness. A similar trend has also been observed in five city corporation areas.

Prime Minister’s Special Assistant for Health Affairs Dr. S. M. Ziauddin Hyder said the country’s overall child mortality rate from measles remains stable.

However, he noted that several more weeks are needed to fully assess the impact of the vaccination campaign, as antibodies generally take three to four weeks to develop after immunisation.

DGHS Director General Prof. Dr. Pravath Chandra Biswas told BSS that measles infections among children have declined significantly in the areas where the campaign was first introduced.

A BSS correspondent in Chapainawabganj reported that after only two patients were admitted to the district hospital in January and five in February, measles cases surged in March.

By April, the situation had nearly reached epidemic levels, with around 100 patients admitted daily. At present, however, only eight to ten patients are being admitted each day.

Chapainawabganj Civil Surgeon Dr. A. K. M. Shahab Uddin said the severity of measles in the district has decreased considerably.

District Hospital Superintendent Dr. Mashiur Rahman said recent admission figures suggest the outbreak in Chapainawabganj is subsiding.

Meanwhile, a BSS correspondent in Natore reported that the special vaccination campaign in the district’s sadar upazila has helped restore public confidence. At present, no deaths or severe complications linked to measles symptoms have been reported.

Natore District Civil Surgeon Dr. Muhammad Mashiur Rahman said all targeted children in Natore Sadar Upazila received measles vaccines under the special measles-rubella campaign.

As a result, immunity levels have improved, measles cases have fallen, and public awareness has increased, bringing relief to local residents, he said.

Pabna Civil Surgeon Md. Abul Kalam Azad told BSS that although children are still contracting measles, the number of infections has declined significantly.

He said that while the district hospital admitted around 19 to 21 measles patients daily in March, the current figure has dropped to eight to ten admissions a day.