Measles infections have surged across the world. From Europe to Africa and North America to Australia, the highly contagious virus has emerged on nearly every continent.

World Health Organisation data show 30,557 confirmed cases globally between January and March. Most regions have yet to submit full figures for March.

The Americas recorded the highest regional tally, with 8,814 children infected in the first two months of this year. Africa reported 7,193 cases and Southeast Asia 6,726. Separate figures from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put confirmed American cases at 1,575 up to March 26. Mexico has recorded more than 7,400 confirmed infections.

The Pan-American Health Organisation reports a 43-fold increase in measles this year across seven countries: Bolivia, Canada, Chile, the United States, Guatemala, Mexico and Uruguay. Outbreaks have also struck the UK’s London and Birmingham, as well as Italy, Spain, France and Romania.

Bangladesh’s health directorate on the other hand recorded 6,476 people attending hospitals with measles symptoms since March 15. Hospitals admitted 4,628 children and doctors detected the virus in 826.

The most alarming figure: deaths from confirmed measles or related symptoms have already exceeded 100. This raises the question if Bangladesh now has the world’s highest measles death toll. The WHO has yet to publish comparable country-by-country data. Its statistics show just 6,726 confirmed cases for all of Southeast Asia in January and February. Bangladesh alone recorded 6,476 children with measles symptoms needing medical care from mid-March. Moreover, while Latin America, Africa, the United States, Mexico, India and Europe have reported infections, none have disclosed significant deaths. Bangladesh’s toll has already surpassed 100. These numbers suggest the country now faces the world’s worst measles outbreak.

An April 4 bulletin from the health directorate’s health emergency operation centre and control room reported six children died in the 24 hours to 8 am on Friday from confirmed measles or its symptoms. Two of those deaths were confirmed measles cases. The other four children had been hospitalised with symptoms. According to the directorate, the country since March 15 has recorded 16 confirmed measles deaths. At the same time, 98 more children died with symptoms. The disease mainly strikes children.

The same daily bulletin said 60 new confirmed cases emerged in the 24-hour period. Another 787 people arrived at hospitals with symptoms, of whom 488 children required admission. Dhaka hospitals admitted the most symptomatic patients in this period: 315. Mymensingh admitted the fewest: four.

Chattogram district civil surgeon’s office recorded four new confirmed measles cases in children in the 24 hours to yesterday noon. Hospitals admitted 28 children with symptoms in the same period and discharged 28. Ninety-eight patients currently remain in hospital with confirmed measles or its symptoms.

District civil surgeon Dr Jahangir Alam told Barta Barta that changing weather — alternating cold and heat — is raising illnesses in children. He stressed that not every sick child now has measles. Hospitals are giving all admitted children maximum care. The government has issued special guidelines for public and private hospitals to ensure no suspected measles patient faces difficulty in getting treatment. Doctors are treating confirmed and suspected cases routinely and sending necessary samples to Dhaka laboratories for testing.

Tangail ranks among the worst-affected districts. Tangail General Hospital, a 250-bed facility, admitted 13 children with measles symptoms yesterday. Two children have died in the past three days. Twenty-seven patients remain in the hospital.

Health directorate data show 6,476 people attended hospitals nationwide with measles symptoms since March 15. Of these, doctors diagnosed 826 children with measles. Hospitals admitted 4,628 children presenting symptoms during this period. A total of 2,654 children have left hospital after treatment.

An emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign begins today. Officials will initially target children aged six months to 59 months on a priority basis across 30 sub-districts in 18 districts. Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain, the minister for health and family welfare, announced this at a press conference at the secretariat on Saturday afternoon.

The 30 sub-districts in the initial emergency vaccination drive are: Godagari in Rajshahi; Nawabganj in Dhaka; Louhajang, Sadar and Srinagar in Munshiganj; Nalchity in Jhalakathi; Trishal, Sadar and Fulpur in Mymensingh; Haimchar and Sadar in Chandpur; Mehendiganj and Bakerganj in Barisal; Ishwardi, Sadar, Atgharia and Bera in Pabna; Porsha in Naogaon; Gazipur Sadar; Atpara in Netrokona; Zajira in Shariatpur; Barguna Sadar; Madaripur Sadar; Moheshkhali and Ramu in Cox’s Bazar; Chapainawabganj Sadar, Shibganj and Bholahat; Natore Sadar; and Jashore Sadar.

The health ministry said vaccination centres will operate daily from 9 am to 5 pm. In addition to previous immunisation sites, local designated spots, schools and community centres will host the drive. Officials advise against vaccinating children who currently have fever or are unwell; they should receive the vaccine after recovery.

The health minister confirmed that all children in the age bracket will receive the vaccine again, regardless of prior immunisation. “Nearly 82 percent of those infected are children aged six months to five years,” he said. “That’s why we’re bringing all children aged six to 59 months under the vaccine in this first phase.”

He added that alongside the vaccination drive, children infected with measles or suffering fever will receive vitamin A capsules. Although the campaign initially targets high-risk areas, authorities will gradually expand it nationwide and continue it as part of the routine programme through July.