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Bangladesh Measles Crisis: 1,000 Children Dead as Cases Spike
17 Sep
Summary
- Over 1,000 children have died amid a surging measles outbreak in Bangladesh.
- Nearly 20 million children vaccinated, yet 1,000 new cases reported daily.
- Malnutrition exacerbates vulnerability, increasing complications and deaths.
A devastating measles outbreak has claimed the lives of over 1,000 children in Bangladesh. Despite a massive vaccination campaign that has reached more than 19.8 million children, the highly contagious disease continues to spread, with approximately 1,000 new suspected cases reported daily.
The nation's health system is struggling to cope, with hospitals overwhelmed and operating far beyond capacity. Experts note that the initial emergency response was inadequate, leaving many children unprotected and failing to reach sufficient regions and age groups. Malnutrition is a significant contributing factor, making children more susceptible to severe complications and death from measles.
Bangladesh had made considerable progress toward eliminating measles until March of this year. However, it now faces more cases than any other country globally. The outbreak is attributed to a "perfect storm" of factors including a dense population and delayed routine immunizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. An intensified vaccination phase is planned for September 26 to reach unvaccinated children.
