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Measles Surge: Bangladesh Battles Worst Outbreak in Years
7 Apr
Summary
- Bangladesh faces its worst measles outbreak in years, with over 100 child deaths.
- An emergency vaccination drive targets children aged six months to five years.
- Previous governance issues led to vaccine gaps and stockpiling shortages.
Bangladesh is currently confronting its worst measles outbreak in years, with over 100 children succumbing to the disease and more than 900 cases confirmed since March. The government, in partnership with the United Nations, has launched an urgent measles-rubella vaccination campaign to combat the escalating crisis. This surge is the most severe the South Asian nation has experienced in a considerable time.
The emergency vaccination drive is focusing on children between six months and five years old in high-risk areas, with plans for a nationwide expansion. Experts note that a significant portion of affected children are under nine months, an age group not yet eligible for routine vaccination, highlighting critical immunity gaps. This situation stems from disruptions in vaccine procurement and past vaccination campaigns, exacerbated by political instability and mismanagement by previous administrations.
Despite Bangladesh's historical success in raising child immunization coverage significantly since 1979, stark discrepancies in measles vaccine uptake persist across its population of 170 million. Authorities are urging parents to seek medical attention at hospitals for suspected measles cases or high temperatures, rather than relying on local pharmacies, to ensure timely and accurate diagnosis and treatment.
