At least 13 more children died and 1,021 others were infected with measles or developed measles symptoms nationwide in the 24 hours until 8:00am on Saturday.
With the latest figures, a total of 512 children have died and 71,001 others have been infected with measles or have developed measles symptoms since the government began keeping records on March 15.
The directorate general of health services reported that, of them, 86 deaths and 8,494 infections were confirmed as measles.
According to the DGHS, of the 13 deaths reported in the past 24 hours, four occurred each in Dhaka and Barishal divisions, two in Chattogram division, and two in Sylhet and one in Mymensingh divisions.
The highest number of confirmed measles deaths, 50, was reported in Dhaka division, where 164 more children died with measles symptoms.
In Rajshahi division, two deaths were confirmed as measles while 79 others died with symptoms. In Chattogram division, 10 deaths were confirmed as measles while 42 others died with measles symptoms.
In Barishal division, three confirmed measles deaths and 49 symptomatic deaths were reported, while Sylhet division recorded 18 confirmed deaths and 31 symptomatic deaths. In Mymensingh division, two confirmed deaths and 35 symptomatic deaths were reported.
In Khulna and Rangpur divisions, no confirmed measles deaths were reported, though 21 and five symptomatic deaths were recorded respectively.
Health service officials said that during the past week, an average of 10 children died and more than 1,000 were infected daily.
Public health experts have repeatedly urged the government to declare measles a national public health emergency. However, the government has not made any official declaration, though it launched an immunisation campaign on April 5.
Initially, the government administered measles vaccines at 30 upazilas in 18 hotspot districts.
Later, the vaccination campaign was expanded nationwide for children aged between six months and 59 months.
The DGHS on Friday reported 102 per cent vaccination coverage in divisions and 106 per cent coverage in 12 city corporation areas.
The highest coverage, 113 per cent, was reported in Gazipur City Corporation area, where the target was 178,423 children but 201,008 children were vaccinated.
