Bangladesh measles toll nears grim 1,000-child mark

Bangladesh's measles outbreak is nearing 1,000 child deaths as crowded hospital wards fill with babies struggling to breathe. At Dhaka's Shishu Hospital, parents are keeping watch beside children receiving oxygen and intensive treatment.

Rima Akter, whose nine-month-old son is being treated in the hospital's measles ward, described seeing children die nearby. "Just an hour ago, a child died, and they wheeled him out in front of us," she told AFP. "We saw two children die today."

At least 986 children have died since March, according to the latest health ministry figures. Suspected and confirmed cases have risen above 180,000, while more than 1,000 suspected infections are reported each day.

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

Measles spreads easily through coughs and sneezes. The disease has no specific treatment after infection, and complications can include brain swelling and serious breathing problems. Young children face particular risks.

The South Asian country, home to 170 million people, has started a mass vaccination drive, but the outbreak continues to grow. Sanjana Islam Modina, 19, said she had taken her six-month-old son Ayan between several hospitals since July. He first entered hospital with pneumonia, later contracted measles and spent 15 days in intensive care before moving to a specialised measles ward in mid-August.

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I've been running to and from multiple hospitals since July to get my son the proper treatment.