Home / Health / Bangladesh Measles Crisis: 652 Deaths Mount
Bangladesh Measles Crisis: 652 Deaths Mount
15 Jun
Summary
- Over 650 children have died from suspected or confirmed measles.
- New daily cases exceed 1,000 despite high vaccination claims.
- Experts question vaccine effectiveness and true coverage gaps.
In Bangladesh, a grave measles outbreak has led to at least 652 confirmed and suspected deaths. In the 24 hours leading up to Sunday morning, four more children succumbed to measles-like symptoms, bringing the total fatalities to this grim number. The number of suspected measles deaths has risen to 560, while 92 deaths have been confirmed by laboratory tests.
Over 85,000 suspected measles cases have been reported nationwide, with 1,052 new cases identified in the latest 24-hour period. Additionally, 75 new confirmed infections were recorded, bringing the total confirmed cases to over 10,000. Since March 15, over 70,000 patients have been hospitalized, and a significant majority have recovered.
Despite official claims of over 100% vaccination coverage, the outbreak's persistence has alarmed immunisation experts. They highlight that high reported coverage does not guarantee protection if immunity is not adequately developed. Concerns are mounting over the effectiveness of the vaccines and the reality of coverage gaps, as transmission rates remain high.
