Measles kills 15 children; Rajshahi most affected region

The ongoing measles outbreak has killed 15 children so far this year, said Health Services Division Secretary Md Quamruzzaman Chowdhury on Wednesday.

The outbreak is spreading fast, straining existing health infrastructure, with Rajshahi the worst hit, the secretary said at a press conference held at the Bangladesh Secretariat.

After testing 33 samples at WHO-backed laboratories, 15 fatalities were found to have direct links to the measles outbreak, he outlined.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said children yet to be included in the vaccination drive and those who are yet to take their second dose are most at risk of infection. Among these, children suffering from malnutrition face heightened risk.