Daijiworld Media Network - Dhaka

Dhaka, Jul 19: Bangladesh has reported four more child deaths linked to measles-like symptoms over the past 24 hours, taking the country's combined total of confirmed and suspected measles-related fatalities to 788, according to official health data cited by local media.

All four of the latest deaths were classified as suspected measles fatalities. The number of suspected deaths has now reached 693, while 95 deaths have been laboratory-confirmed as being caused by measles.

Health authorities also recorded 938 new suspected measles cases during the same period, pushing the cumulative number of suspected infections to 117,648.

In addition, 113 new laboratory-confirmed cases were reported, taking the total number of confirmed measles infections to 14,431.

According to data from Bangladesh's Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), more than 100,000 people with suspected measles have been hospitalised since March 15. Of these, 96,521 patients have recovered, while hospitals continue to treat thousands of active cases.

Medical experts have warned that Bangladesh's healthcare system now faces the added challenge of a rising dengue outbreak, which threatens to further strain hospitals already dealing with a heavy influx of measles patients.

Reports indicate that major government hospitals in Dhaka continue to admit more than 900 measles patients daily, leaving healthcare facilities under significant pressure.

The dengue situation has also worsened in recent weeks. According to local reports, June accounted for nearly 48 per cent of all dengue cases and 72 per cent of dengue-related deaths recorded in Bangladesh so far this year.

Health specialists caution that dengue infections could rise sharply during the peak monsoon months of July and August, unless authorities intensify efforts to control the spread of Aedes mosquitoes, which transmit the disease.

Fazle Rabbi Chowdhury, Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at Bangladesh Medical University (BMU), said that although measles cases have begun to decline, the reduction has been slower than anticipated.

He noted that ongoing monsoon conditions are creating ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes, increasing the likelihood of a significant rise in dengue cases and placing additional pressure on already overstretched hospitals.

Public health experts have urged the Bangladeshi government to strengthen mosquito control measures, expand temporary treatment facilities and establish dedicated dengue care units to prevent the simultaneous outbreaks of measles and dengue from developing into a larger public health emergency.