Vaccine coverage gaps spur Bangladesh’s deadly measles outbreak
A deadly measles outbreak has infected over 12,000 and killed 143, mostly children, in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is grappling with its deadliest measles outbreak in two decades, with health authorities reporting at least 143 fatalities, predominantly among children, and more than 12,000 suspected cases since March 15. The severity of the crisis is palpable in overwhelmed medical facilities, such as the DNCC Hospital in Dhaka, originally established for COVID-19, which is now flooded with cases. Distressed parents, like 18-year-old Rubia Akhtar Brishti, have rushed from villages to the capital seeking help for infants suffering from high fevers, full-body rashes, and severe respiratory distress.
In response to the escalating public health emergency, Bangladeshi health authorities, with support from UN agencies, launched an urgent vaccination campaign on Sunday. The campaign aims to protect more than 1.2 million children against the highly contagious virus, which spreads through coughs and sneezes. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies measles as one of the world's most contagious diseases, making high vaccination coverage critical to prevent outbreaks. This emergency effort seeks to close dangerous immunity gaps that have allowed the virus to surge, marking the most significant measles crisis the South Asian nation has faced in 20 years.
- The outbreak has caused at least 143 deaths, with the vast majority being children.
- Health authorities have launched an emergency campaign to vaccinate over 1.2 million children.
- This is Bangladesh's worst measles outbreak in 20 years, with over 12,000 suspected cases.
Why It Matters
Highlights the catastrophic human cost of vaccination gaps and the urgent need for robust public health infrastructure.