More than 1,000 Children Killed in Bangladesh Measles Outbreak
By Azadeh Moshiri, South Asia Correspondent, BBC News
Bangladesh is facing its worst measles outbreak in decades, with over 1,000 child deaths attributed to the highly contagious disease. Despite an emergency vaccination campaign, the number of suspected cases continues to rise, with approximately 1,000 new cases reported daily.
More than 19.8 million children in the country have already been vaccinated, but some 1,000 new suspected cases are still being reported every day.
On September 26, the government plans to enter an "intensified phase" of its vaccination drive, according to UNICEF, aiming to reach children who have not yet been vaccinated.
A Turning Point for Bangladesh's Measles Elimination Efforts
Until March this year, Bangladesh had made significant progress towards eliminating measles, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). However, recent data indicates that the country has recorded the highest number of measles cases worldwide in 2024.
The latest government figures reveal over 194,000 measles cases since March, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. On Tuesday alone, eight more lives were lost to suspected measles.
Factors Contributing to the Outbreak
UNICEF had previously blamed a combination of factors for the initial outbreak, including an overcrowded population and delays in routine immunization caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency also accused the interim government of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of delaying vaccine orders, leading to shortages.
Challenges and Criticisms
Public health expert Dr. Mushtuq Husain argues that the initial emergency campaign was inadequate, leaving many children unprotected. He suggests that the government's response should have been more comprehensive, reaching more regions and age groups through door-to-door health worker visits.
The WHO, while acknowledging that some target children were missed, maintains that the vaccination campaign was a success. They attribute the ongoing outbreak to the widespread transmission that had already occurred before the implementation of vaccination activities.
Malnutrition, a significant concern in Bangladesh, exacerbates the situation, making children more susceptible to serious complications and death from measles.