DHAKA: (Web Desk) – Bangladesh is facing its worst measles outbreak in decades with more than 500 children losing their lives due to the highly contagious but preventable disease according to official data released on Saturday.
Hospitals across the capital city Dhaka are struggling to cope with the growing number of patients and have established special wards for measles cases while facing a critical shortage of intensive care beds.
Health authorities confirmed that 13 children died within the last twenty four hours raising the overall death toll to 512 since March 15.
To control the outbreak Bangladesh launched a nationwide vaccination campaign. UNICEF country representative Rana Flowers stated this week that nearly 18 million children have already received vaccines under the emergency drive.
Despite the large scale campaign officials warned that it could take several months before the full benefits of vaccination efforts become visible.
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UNICEF earlier highlighted that routine immunisation programs suffered major disruptions during and after the political unrest of 2024 which led to the fall of the country’s former government leaving many children vulnerable to infection.
Measles spreads rapidly through coughing and sneezing and there is no direct cure once a person contracts the disease. Severe cases can lead to brain swelling breathing complications and lung infections especially among young children.
Doctors and health workers said the most affected children are mainly from underprivileged families where malnutrition and missed vaccinations have weakened immunity levels.
Although the government recently claimed the outbreak was gradually coming under control after case numbers declined in some heavily affected regions health experts warned that critically ill children continue arriving at hospitals daily.
Pediatric specialist Ainul Islam Khan from Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital said many young patients reached medical facilities suffering from severe respiratory distress along with infections affecting the eyes throat and lungs.
UNICEF has urged authorities to strengthen routine vaccination systems improve healthcare funding and expand disease monitoring networks to prevent similar outbreaks in the future.
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