A suspected measles outbreak in Bangladesh has killed at least 98 children in the past three weeks, according to official data released by the health ministry. The data showed that children aged between six months and five years old with suspected measles symptoms soared to 6,476.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed two senior ministers to travel across the South Asian nation to assess the scale of the crisis and help coordinate a response. The health ministry has identified 30 of the most affected areas in the region and has started a vaccination programme.
Measles Outbreak Causes
Experts attribute the potential outbreak to “multifactorial causes, including a shortage of vaccines”. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), measles is one of the world’s most contagious diseases, transmitted when a person coughs or sneezes.
Bangladesh has made significant advancements in vaccinations to tackle infectious diseases, but a measles drive due in June 2024 was delayed by a deadly uprising that same year. Most Bangladeshi children receive a vaccine at nine months, although many infected in the recent outbreak had been six months old, officials added.
Response Efforts
The government has committed to reducing the number of measles cases to zero by December 2025, but failed to achieve the target due to poor vaccination programmes. Health Minister Sardar Shakhawat Hossain Bakul said the vaccination drive will cover the “worst affected areas” before being expanded to other regions.
Here are some key facts about the measles outbreak in Bangladesh:
- At least 98 children have died in the past three weeks
- 6,476 children have shown suspected measles symptoms
- 30 affected areas have been identified for vaccination
- The WHO estimates 95,000 measles deaths globally every year
For more information on measles and vaccination, visit the Wikipedia page on measles.</p)
