Bangladesh in grips of world’s worst measles outbreak, with 1,000 dead in last 6 months
Bangladesh is currently experiencing the world's largest measles outbreak, with nearly 1,000 deaths and over 166,000 suspected cases reported since March. Experts attribute the crisis to disrupted immunization schedules caused by recent political instability.
Why it matters
The outbreak underscores the critical impact of political turmoil on public health infrastructure and the vulnerability of children when routine vaccination programs are interrupted.
Seven-month-old Tanvir Mahmud was one of many children being treated for measles at hospital in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka on Wednesday, as the country endures a major outbreak that some experts attribute to lagging vaccination rates in recent years. (Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters)
Bangladesh, which once came close to eliminating measles, is facing its worst outbreak on record, with around 1,000 suspected and confirmed measles-related deaths reported since March, as hospitals struggle with overcrowding, shortages and a continuing influx of sick children.
The South Asian country is currently experiencing the biggest measles outbreak in the world, according to a list on the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website (new window) , recording more than 57,000 cases between January and June.
But the numbers may be far higher than that, according to Bangladesh's Health Ministry.
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