Staff Reporter:
Measles cases are beginning to decline in 30 upazilas under 18 districts identified as hotspots due to the government’s accelerated drive to contain the spread of measles infection.
In most of these upazilas, the daily number of measles cases has dropped to below double digits, relevant sources said.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), measles infections among children have significantly decreased in the areas where vaccination campaigns were initially conducted.
Under the special campaign launched on April 5, children aged 5 to 59 months were vaccinated, result-ing in a noticeable reduction in new measles cases in high-risk areas.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain said the vaccination programme launched on April 5 in the 30 hotspot upazilas across 18 districts has brought measles cases there almost to zero.
He also stated that measles is currently under control nationwide.
World Health Organization representative Dr Chiranjit Das said vaccines generally take two to three weeks to show effectiveness.
Statistic shows that after vaccination activities began on April 5 in the 30 identified hotspot upazilas, new infections have now nearly disappeared.
In particular, patient numbers started visibly declining after April 17. He described these results as clear evidence of the vaccine’s effectiveness. A similar trend is also being observed in five city corporation areas.
Prime Minister’s Special Assistant for Health Affairs Dr. S. M. Ziauddin Hyder said the overall child mortality rate from measles in the country remains stable.
However, he noted that it will take several more weeks to achieve the full benefits of the vaccination campaign, as antibodies generally take three to four weeks to develop after vaccination.
DGHS director general Prof. Dr. Pravath Chandra Biswas told that measles infections among children have significantly declined in the areas where the campaign was initially conducted.
