A measles outbreak in Bangladesh has killed more than 500 children, marking the deadliest surge in decades, according to health officials.

The death toll reached 512 as of Saturday, with 13 children dying in the past 24 hours alone, based on a tally by the health department that started on March 15.

Hospitals in the capital Dhaka are overwhelmed, setting up dedicated wards but lacking sufficient intensive care beds.

Measles, a highly contagious viral disease spread through coughs and sneezes, primarily affects children and can cause severe complications like pneumonia, brain inflammation, and death, especially among malnourished or unvaccinated children.

The South Asian nation of 175 million has launched a mass vaccination drive. UNICEF country chief Rana Flowers said the campaign has reached 18 million children.

However, the health department noted that the full impact of vaccinations would take months to materialize.

UNICEF reported that immunization gaps worsened during and after the 2024 student-led uprising that toppled the government, leaving many children unprotected.

Despite government claims that the outbreak is now contained, deaths continue to rise. Most cases involve children aged six months to five years.

Doctors report that many children arrive at hospitals critically ill. Dr. Ainul Islam Khan, a pediatrician at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital in Dhaka, told AFP that most children presented with respiratory distress and infections of the eyes, throat, and lungs.

UNICEF stressed the need to boost vaccination programs and increase funding for health facilities. A policy brief by the Global Antibiotic Resistance Partnership warned that vaccination gaps could worsen antimicrobial resistance in Bangladesh.

Source: www.aljazeera.com