Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman announced that the government will investigate why measles vaccines were not administered during the interim government period. He made the statement on Tuesday at the Secretariat during a weekly briefing in response to reporters’ questions. The investigation aims to determine whether any negligence by the interim administration contributed to the deaths of over three hundred children showing measles symptoms.

Rahman stated that 16.1 million children aged six months to under five years have received the vaccine, reaching 89 percent of the target, and full coverage is expected within days. He added that health departments have begun preparations to combat dengue outbreaks. This week, 2.2 million additional mixing syringes arrived in the country with support from UNICEF and Gavi for the ongoing measles-rubella vaccination campaign.

He also discussed government initiatives to improve public transport management in Dhaka, including plans for electric buses and the introduction of an ETC system on the Dhaka Elevated Expressway.

A free health care camp was inaugurated at Hafiz Ibrahim College in Borhanuddin, Bhola, with the goal of bringing modern medical services to marginalized and underprivileged communities. The event took place on Monday and was inaugurated by Alhaj Hafiz Ibrahim, the Member of Parliament for Bhola-2. He emphasized the importance of such initiatives in ensuring access to healthcare for rural people and pledged to continue similar programs in the future, including efforts to bring renowned doctors to provide free treatment locally.

Acting Principal Zakaria Azam of Hafiz Ibrahim College welcomed the initiative, describing it as a vital humanitarian effort to support disadvantaged groups. He expressed hope that such activities would continue in the coming years. On the opening day, around 2,600 underprivileged individuals received free medical services from 10 to 12 experienced doctors. Additionally, more than 1,000 poor patients received free medicines distributed by the organizers.

The day-long camp was organized by Square Pharmaceuticals as part of its outreach to provide essential healthcare to rural communities.

NCC Bank recently organized a mental health awareness workshop titled “Mind Matters: Workplace Mental Health Talk for Women” for its female employees at the bank’s head office. The session aimed to promote an inclusive and healthy work environment. The workshop was conducted by Dr. Nasim Jahan, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Psychiatry at BIRDEM General Hospital and Ibrahim Medical College.

Dr. Jahan delivered an informative presentation on key aspects of workplace mental health, including stress management, emotional resilience, and work-life balance. Participants were also introduced to internationally recognized assessment tools such as the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ), which help individuals identify and manage early signs of stress, anxiety, and depression.

The event was moderated by Nighat Momtaz, Executive Vice President and Head of Sustainable and Women’s Banking at NCC Bank. A total of 142 female officers attended in person, while others from branches across the country joined digitally. Participants described the initiative as timely and necessary in today’s evolving work environment.

Nurul Islam, the Member of Parliament for Bhola-4, has initiated steps to bring the 20-bed Saudi Hospital in Dakshin Aicha, Charfassion, under the government revenue sector. On April 30, he submitted an application to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare requesting the hospital’s inclusion in the revenue budget to ensure its full operation.

According to the application, the hospital was built in 1998 with funding from the Saudi government to provide healthcare to residents of the remote area. Despite having a modern building and equipment, the facility has remained largely non-functional for 26 years due to shortages of staff and medicine. As a result, local residents must travel about 30 kilometers to the upazila headquarters for treatment, which is both difficult and costly. Locals have long demanded that the hospital be brought under the revenue sector and staffed adequately.

Helal Uddin Tipu, a member of the district BNP convening committee, expressed optimism that the authorities would act promptly to implement this public-interest initiative.

An opinion piece published on May 4, 2026, in Amader Desh highlights the growing problem of device addiction in modern society. The article warns that smartphones, tablets, and laptops, while making life easier, are silently fostering a new behavioral disorder known as digital dependency or internet gaming disorder. It notes that excessive screen time is reducing attention span, memory, and mental strength, particularly among youth. According to Statista data cited in the article, people spend an average of six to eight hours daily on screens, and about 70 percent of urban Bangladeshi students use mobile phones for more than four hours a day.

The report identifies health issues such as computer vision syndrome and text neck syndrome, along with psychological problems like depression, anxiety, and insomnia. It also discusses how social media comparisons and instant gratification are eroding patience and emotional stability. The article warns that children exposed to screens too early may face developmental challenges, including autism-like conditions.

To counter this, the author suggests digital detox, screen-time management, and parental guidance to promote balanced technology use and strengthen family relationships.

Member of Parliament Monjurul Islam Monju from Dinajpur-1 has issued a strict warning that any clinic in Birganj where a patient dies during surgery will be permanently sealed. He made the announcement while addressing local clinics, emphasizing that operations must be conducted under proper medical guidelines with qualified surgeons and anesthesiologists.

The MP instructed all clinics to employ at least one BMDC-registered MBBS medical officer, three diploma nurses, and other staff as required by regulations. He also directed that certified medical technologists be appointed for laboratory work on a contractual basis. Monju cautioned that no recommendation or leniency would be given if rules are violated, urging clinic owners to ensure patient safety and compliance.

He further instructed the Upazila Nirbahi Officer and the Health and Family Planning Officer to remain vigilant. Monju called on clinic owners to transform Birganj into a model healthcare town by following proper standards, warning that repeated patient deaths would no longer be tolerated.

A suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship traveling from Argentina to Cape Verde has resulted in three deaths, according to the World Health Organization as reported by the BBC. A 70-year-old male passenger on the MV Hondius fell ill and died after the vessel reached Saint Helena Island. His 69-year-old wife also became ill and later died in a hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Hantavirus is a rodent-borne virus that spreads through inhalation of particles from dried rodent droppings. Professor Paul Griffin, Director of Infectious Diseases at Mater Health Services in Australia, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that hantavirus is not a common virus but can be severe. He noted that cruise ships provide favorable conditions for infection spread due to confined spaces and prolonged close contact among passengers.

Griffin added that since the COVID-19 pandemic, hygiene practices have improved, making hantavirus transmission among cruise passengers highly unusual.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain announced that 81 percent of measles vaccinations have been completed across Bangladesh, leading to significant control over the disease. He stated that antibody formation is progressing well and that full vaccination coverage is expected within a few days. The minister made these remarks on Sunday during a session with deputy commissioners at the District Commissioners’ Conference.

During the session, district commissioners highlighted various problems in health complexes nationwide. The minister directed that ambulance services in all upazila health complexes must remain operational and that efforts should be made to curb the influence of brokers in hospitals. He also mentioned ongoing drives against counterfeit medicines.

Additionally, the minister emphasized cleanliness to prevent dengue outbreaks and instructed that sufficient stocks of anti-venom and rabies vaccines be maintained across the country. Plans were also discussed to ensure healthcare services reach citizens more effectively, including the recruitment of ten Ansar members for each upazila health complex.

In southern Afghanistan’s Kandahar region, hundreds of people are turning to self-proclaimed spiritual healer Neda Mohammad Qadri, who claims to cure cancer and thalassemia by blessing water. Qadri, a former cook with no medical or religious training, attracts large crowds daily as patients seek hope amid a collapsing healthcare system. Many, including families of terminally ill patients, report paying him money and livestock despite no medical improvement.

According to the World Health Organization, Afghanistan records over 24,000 new cancer cases and 17,000 deaths annually, though experts believe the real figures are higher due to a lack of hospitals, doctors, and diagnostic facilities. After the Taliban took power in 2021, international aid sharply declined, leaving hospitals like Kandahar’s Mirwais facility short of essential equipment. Border closures with Pakistan have further restricted access to advanced treatment and imported medicines.

Medical experts warn that unregulated spiritual practices and misuse of antibiotics pose serious health risks. They stress that such rituals may offer emotional comfort but cannot replace professional medical care, leaving many Afghans trapped between faith and failing healthcare.

A measles outbreak has intensified in the Rohingya camps of Ukhiya and Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar, with more than 330 suspected and 40 laboratory-confirmed cases recorded in the first four months of 2026. Three deaths have been reported. The international medical organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has strengthened its operations, providing treatment to affected children and supporting ongoing vaccination efforts. MSF reported that the outbreak has spread across all 64 districts of Bangladesh, with the densely populated refugee camps posing heightened transmission risks.

MSF’s Country Medical Coordinator, Mike Stensens, said infections surged sharply from March, with most patients being children under five, many showing severe pneumonia symptoms. In April alone, MSF treated 284 measles patients, four times higher than in the first quarter, with 82 requiring hospitalization. A new isolation unit opened on April 19 in the Jamtoli camp has already reached full capacity. Low vaccination coverage remains the main concern, as nearly three-quarters of confirmed patients were unvaccinated.

To contain the outbreak, health authorities launched a measles and rubella vaccination campaign on April 26 across the Rohingya camps.

A severe measles outbreak has been reported inside the Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute in Dhaka, where parents allege that children admitted for other illnesses are contracting measles during treatment. As of April 2026, 466 children had been hospitalized with measles symptoms since January, and 17 had died. Hospital data show a 152 percent rise in admissions from March to April, with most patients aged between six and nine months. The hospital’s specialized measles ward and ICU are operating at full capacity, leaving many families struggling to find beds.

Doctors confirm that measles, being highly contagious, is spreading through respiratory contact among patients. They cite delayed vaccination and malnutrition as key factors worsening the situation. Parents describe distressing scenes of infants suffering from fever, rashes, and breathing difficulties, while many express frustration over the shortage of ICU beds and limited care facilities.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services, 1,096 new measles cases were recorded nationwide in the past 24 hours, including four suspected deaths. Since March 15, a total of 284 child deaths have been reported, 49 of them confirmed measles fatalities.

Saudi Arabia has announced strict health regulations for Hajj pilgrims ahead of the main rituals of the pilgrimage. The Ministry of Health stated that individuals suffering from serious physical or mental illnesses will not be granted Hajj permits this year. The directive, reported by Gulf News citing the Saudi Public Health Authority, aims to ensure the safety of pilgrims who might struggle with the physically demanding rituals. The ministry has also made several vaccinations mandatory for all participants.

According to the Saudi authorities, people with kidney complications requiring dialysis, heart failure, liver cirrhosis, severe mental disorders including dementia, extreme age-related weakness, and women in the last trimester of pregnancy are ineligible for Hajj permits. All pilgrims must receive a meningitis vaccine at least ten days before the pilgrimage. Those at higher risk, such as the elderly, patients with chronic diseases, and pregnant women, are advised to take COVID-19 and seasonal influenza vaccines.

The ministry emphasized that these measures are part of Saudi Arabia’s annual effort to prevent global health risks and ensure the safety of millions gathering in Mecca.

Fourteen people were injured in separate rabid dog attacks in Gournadi upazila of Barishal on Thursday. The incidents occurred between morning and afternoon across several areas, including Torki, Bilbgram, Shaora, Sundari, Barthi, Kotoksthol, Baurgati, and Magura. Additionally, one person was injured by a cat bite in the Gournadi bus stand area. All the injured received treatment at the Gournadi Upazila Health Complex.

According to the emergency department register of the health complex, the victims include several children and adults from different villages. The on-duty physician, Dr. Samiron Haldar, confirmed that all patients received primary treatment and vaccination before returning home. He also noted a recent increase in the number of patients attacked by rabid dogs in the area.

The incidents have raised concern among local residents about the growing number of stray and rabid animals in Gournadi, though no further official measures were reported in the source.

Dr. Mahmudur Rahman, editor of the newspaper Amar Desh, was hospitalized on Thursday morning in Dhaka’s Moghbazar area for gallbladder stone removal surgery at Insaf-Barakah Hospital. The operation was performed by Professor Dr. Matiar Rahman, with anesthesiologists Professor Dr. Idris and Dr. Rafiqul Islam, and Associate Professor Dr. Monir Hossain overseeing overall management. Following the surgery at 10 a.m., Rahman regained consciousness and was reported to be in stable condition by noon.

His wife Firoza Mahmud, who is also the managing director of Amar Desh, along with senior editorial staff and family members, were present at the hospital during the procedure. Doctors indicated that Rahman was admitted in the morning and, if recovery continues smoothly, he may be discharged on Friday. His family and colleagues have requested prayers for his quick recovery.

Later in the afternoon, a prayer gathering was held at the Amar Desh office after the Asr prayer, led by Sheikh Maulana Ali Hasan Tayeb, with participation from editorial and departmental heads wishing for Rahman’s full recovery.

The newly built Bangladesh Navy Medical College in Chattogram’s Bandar Tila area, adjacent to BNS Issa Khan, was officially inaugurated on Wednesday by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Nazmul Hassan. The institution, established under the supervision of the Bangladesh Navy, aims to provide modern medical education supported by advanced infrastructure and training facilities.

According to the source, the college has already completed its admission process following the guidelines of the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) and the Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP). With the inauguration, a five-year medical education program has begun for 50 civilian students in the current academic year. The Navy Chief stated that the college will enhance the armed forces’ medical capacity and contribute to improved healthcare for the general population.

The college features modern laboratories, a well-equipped library, advanced classrooms, and experienced faculty. Academic activities are set to be conducted by qualified teachers and trained staff, integrating naval discipline and professionalism to strengthen the national healthcare sector.