Bangladesh reels from measles outbreak
Bangladesh’s worst measles outbreak in decades has killed close to 1,000 children with suspected and confirmed cases now surpassing 180,000, according to the latest health ministry figures. More than 1,000 suspected cases are being reported each day as hospitals struggle to treat a growing number of severely ill children, news agency AFP reported. At Dhaka’s Shishu Hospital, 101 children are currently admitted with suspected or confirmed measles. At least 986 children have died since March, according to the health ministry. Pennsylvania has reported 540 measles cases this year, according to Reuters. The state health department also notified the CDC of two measles-associated deaths on August 25 before publishing the deaths on its website.
Doctors said many children are arriving at hospitals with severe respiratory problems and infections, while malnutrition is further reducing their ability to fight the disease. Akter’s nine-month-old son, Sabit Haque, is among the children being treated at the hospital. Measles is highly contagious and spreads through coughs and sneezes. Two doses of vaccine can largely prevent the disease, but once infected, there is no specific treatment. Young children, particularly those who are malnourished, face a higher risk of severe complications. The impact is evident in the hospital’s wards. Vaccination rates in the US have declined, with medical groups citing rising vaccine hesitancy as a key factor.