Dhaka, Bangladesh – The measles death toll in Bangladesh is nearing the tragic threshold of 1,000 children, with at least 986 children having died since March. Suspected and confirmed cases have surpassed 180,000, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Health. Hospital wards in the capital, Dhaka, are overflowing with infants suffering from complex health problems and serious complications such as brain swelling and acute respiratory distress. Meanwhile, more than 1,000 new cases are being recorded daily in the worst outbreak the country has seen in decades.
Causes of the outbreak and vaccination efforts
The outbreak has exposed significant gaps in the healthcare system. SM Ziauddin Haider, the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Health, confirmed that political instability and labor strikes led to the postponement of essential immunization campaigns scheduled for 2024 and 2025 following political changes in the country. This has resulted in a large number of unvaccinated children. Despite the government recently launching a mass vaccination campaign, the number of cases continues to rise. Simultaneously, the crisis has been exacerbated by widespread acute malnutrition among infected children.
Calls for urgent action to contain the epidemic
For his part, epidemiologist and former director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research, Mahmood Rahman, stressed the urgent need to expand vaccination campaigns to contain the epidemic. He also emphasized the importance of raising public awareness about preventive measures such as isolating infected individuals, handwashing, and wearing masks. With the influx of grieving families and the overcrowding of intensive care beds, health efforts remain focused on closing the vaccination gap. These efforts aim to protect thousands of vulnerable children in the country of 170 million people.
