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🇸🇬 Singapore /Disasters & Emergencies

Bangladesh measles death toll nears grim mark of 1,000 children

From The Straits Times · () English

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

At a glance

Newswire Named sources Ongoing story
  • Bangladesh’s worst measles outbreak in decades has killed at least 986 children since March, according to health ministry figures.
  • Suspected and confirmed cases have exceeded 180,000, with more than 1,000 suspected cases reported daily.
  • The government has launched a mass vaccination campaign, but crowded hospitals continue to receive critically ill and malnourished children.

Bangladesh’s deadliest measles outbreak in decades is approaching a grim milestone: nearly 1,000 children have died since March as the epidemic overwhelms hospitals and fills children’s wards.

Just an hour ago, a child died, and they wheeled him out in front of us. We saw two children die today.

· Rima AkterThe mother described conditions at Dhaka’s Shishu Hospital while caring for her nine-month-old son.

At Dhaka’s Shishu Hospital, cries from sick children mingle with the hiss of oxygen machines. Rima Akter, 30, said she watched two children die on Sept. 3 while keeping vigil 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.

The latest health ministry figures show at least 986 child deaths and more than 180,000 suspected and confirmed cases. More than 1,000 suspected cases are being reported each day, despite a nationwide vaccination drive. Measles spreads easily through coughs and sneezes and can cause brain swelling and severe breathing problems. Young children face the greatest risk.

His lungs were already very weak from the pneumonia, then with measles his breathing was affected more.

· Sanjana Islam ModinaShe described her six-month-old son’s condition after he contracted measles following pneumonia.

Many patients reaching hospitals are already critically ill. Doctors say malnutrition is further weakening children’s ability to fight the virus. Sanjana Islam Modina, 19, said she had taken her six-month-old son Ayan to several hospitals since July. After pneumonia, he contracted measles and spent 15 days in intensive care. “His lungs were already very weak from the pneumonia, then with measles his breathing was affected more,” she said. “He’s been on oxygen constantly for the last five days.”

He’s been on oxygen constantly for the last five days.

· Sanjana Islam ModinaShe explained the extent of her son’s breathing problems in hospital.

The outbreak has exposed gaps in Bangladesh’s protection of young children. SM Ziauddin Hyder, a special assistant to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman for health, described it as “devastating.” A measles vaccination campaign planned for 2024 was delayed by the uprising that toppled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, while workers’ strikes and political disruption also affected the response.

Devastating

· SM Ziauddin HyderThe health adviser used the word to describe Bangladesh’s measles outbreak.
About this summary

Originally published by The Straits Times 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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