Hundreds of children die within months
BBC • • health
Key Points:
- Over 500 children have died from suspected and confirmed measles cases in Bangladesh since March, with over 60,000 suspected cases reported in just over two months, according to the health ministry.
- The outbreak has overwhelmed hospitals, with many parents struggling to find space for their sick children, and healthcare workers facing cancelled holidays to manage the crisis.
- Delays in vaccine procurement linked to political changes and disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to gaps in routine immunization, exacerbating the outbreak.
- Bangladesh launched an emergency mass vaccination campaign in April, which UNICEF reports has helped stabilize case numbers in some areas, though nationwide impact will take time as immunity builds.
- Families like that of Akira, a young child who died after multiple missed vaccination opportunities and delayed diagnosis, highlight systemic challenges in vaccine availability, hospital infection control, and healthcare access.