Suspected and confirmed measles deaths top 500 in Bangladesh

Children under five are most vulnerable to severe infection and death, ⁠particularly those who have not been vaccinated or have only been partially ​immunized, health officials have said. The World Health Organization said ⁠last month declining routine immunisation coverage had increased the risk of a large-scale ⁠outbreak.

At least 86 ​children have died from confirmed ​measles infections in Bangladesh ‌this year, ​and another 426 with symptoms consistent with the disease, health officials said on Saturday, as ‌the country battles one of its worst outbreaks in decades. Cases have spread rapidly in recent months, overwhelming hospitals and placing severe strain ‌on already fragile healthcare services, particularly in rural districts and densely populated ‌low-income urban areas.

Health authorities have identified 62,507 suspected measles cases nationwide as well as 8,494 laboratory-confirmed infections between March 15 and May 23, data from ⁠the Directorate ​General of ⁠Health Services showed. Children under five are most vulnerable to severe infection and death, ⁠particularly those who have not been vaccinated or have only been partially ​immunized, health officials have said.

The World Health Organization said ⁠last month declining routine immunisation coverage had increased the risk of a large-scale ⁠outbreak. Since ​then, the government has expanded emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaigns targeting young children.

The government says it has also deployed rapid ⁠response teams, strengthened disease surveillance and increased the distribution of vitamin A to ⁠reduce complications. Measles ⁠is one of the world’s most contagious diseases but can largely be prevented through two doses ‌of ‌vaccine.