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🇵🇰 Pakistan /Health & Science

Bangladesh hospital wards crowded as measles death toll nears 1,000 children

From Dawn · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Ongoing story
  • Bangladesh’s measles outbreak has killed at least 986 children since March, according to the latest health ministry figures.
  • Suspected and confirmed cases have surpassed 180,000 as crowded hospitals treat large numbers of sick children.
  • At Dhaka’s Shishu Hospital, parents reported witnessing children die as oxygen machines and distressed patients filled the wards.

Bangladesh’s deadliest measles outbreak in decades is nearing the grim mark of 1,000 child deaths, while crowded hospital wards fill with babies struggling to breathe and recover.

At Dhaka’s Shishu Hospital, the cries of sick children mix with the hiss of oxygen machines. Rima Akter, 30, kept watch beside her nine-month-old son, Sabit Haque. “Just an hour ago, a child died, and they wheeled him out in front of us,” she told AFP on Thursday. “We saw two children die today.”

Just an hour ago, a child died, and they wheeled him out in front of us.

· Rima AkterA mother speaking at Dhaka’s Shishu Hospital about conditions in the crowded measles ward.

Sabit is among scores of children in the hospital’s measles wards. At least 986 children have died since March, and suspected and confirmed cases have risen beyond 180,000, according to the latest health ministry figures.

Measles spreads easily through coughs and sneezes. The outbreak has placed pressure on hospitals as parents wait with their children for treatment. The report says the disease has no specific treatment, but the supplied text ends before giving further details.

We saw two children die today.

· Rima AkterAkter described witnessing deaths while staying beside her nine-month-old son.
About this summary

Originally published by Dawn in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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