“DEVASTATING”
The outbreak has exposed gaps in Bangladesh’s efforts to protect its youngest.
SM Ziauddin Hyder, special assistant to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman for health, called the outbreak “devastating”.
Bangladesh had previously made major advances in vaccination against infectious diseases, but a measles drive planned for 2024 was delayed by the uprising that toppled former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Workers’ strikes and political instability delayed a 2025 campaign.
The country has since rolled out a mass vaccination drive to combat the outbreak, but the number of cases continues to climb.
“There was a gap of a significant number of children missing the doses,” Hyder said.
“Healthcare workers … are vaccinating these children to close the gap.”
Mahmudur Rahman, an epidemiologist and former director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), said Bangladesh should consider a broader vaccination campaign to contain the outbreak.
Rahman said public awareness was also crucial, stressing preventive measures including isolating infected children, handwashing and the use of masks by caregivers.
Worried mother Akter needs no reminder of how quickly the sickness can spread.
“We are aware of how contagious this disease is; our son was first admitted for bronchitis,” she said
“After being released, we had to come back for measles.”
