DHAKA — A worsening measles outbreak in Bangladesh has killed 10 more children, bringing the total death toll to 294 since mid-March, health authorities said Sunday.
More than 1,260 new infections were recorded in the past 24 hours, raising the total number of cases to over 45,800, according to the Directorate General of Health Services.
The capital Dhaka has reported the highest number of fatalities, with 149 deaths, as patients from rural areas continue to travel to the city for advanced medical care, including access to life-support facilities.
Authorities said the country is facing a shortage of testing kits amid the nationwide spread of the disease.
The World Health Organization said last month that infections had spread to 58 of 64 districts, indicating widespread national transmission.
Bangladesh’s Health Ministry has launched vaccination campaigns, with more than 16.23 million children immunized since April.
The outbreak has been linked to declining vaccination coverage, partly due to a nationwide vaccine shortage between 2024 and 2025, according to the WHO.
Measles is a highly infectious disease that primarily affects children and can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, brain inflammation, and death, particularly among unvaccinated or malnourished populations.
Source: Saudi Gazette