Bangladesh measles outbreak kills nearly 1,000, mostly children

A measles outbreak in Bangladesh has killed nearly 1,000 people since the start of the year, mostly children, following setbacks to the nation's vaccine program. The government is racing to contain the spread with an emergency vaccination drive. The death toll reached 999 by Tuesday, with over 166,000 suspected cases recorded, including nearly 20,000 lab-confirmed infections. The outbreak began escalating in March, prompting a government campaign with WHO, UNICEF, and Gavi, targeting children from 6 months to 5 years old. Vaccination coverage for the second measles dose dropped to 86% last year from 93% in 2024, due to pandemic disruptions and a missed 2024 campaign during political upheaval. Health workers report exhaustion treating severe complications like pneumonia and encephalitis.