Measles outbreak kills nearly 1,000 children in Bangladesh despite vaccination push

A measles outbreak in Bangladesh has killed nearly 1,000 children this year, with over 166,000 suspected cases reported, despite an emergency vaccination campaign launched in March. The government, alongside the WHO, UNICEF, and Gavi, has expanded vaccination drives nationwide, but disruptions from the pandemic and political upheaval in 2024 left many children unvaccinated, creating a coverage gap. Officials report thousands of lab-confirmed infections and rising daily deaths. Health workers at Dhaka Shishu Hospital say they are exhausted treating severe complications like pneumonia and encephalitis. Rival political leaders, including ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and current Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, are trading blame over the vaccine shortfall.