Bangladesh measles outbreak kills 227 children as suspected cases near 35,000

DHAKA: Bangladesh has recorded 227 child deaths since March in one of the country’s worst measles outbreaks in decades, while the number of suspected infections has climbed to 34,980, according to government data released on Wednesday.

The outbreak has hit several parts of the country, with Kurukpata in the Chittagong Hill Tracts described as among the worst-affected areas. The remote region, which is home to Indigenous communities and lies near the border with conflict-hit Myanmar, has seen significant challenges in access to healthcare and vaccination.

District health chief Sheikh Fazle Rabbi said Kurukpata was the most affected area in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and one of the most isolated parts of Bangladesh. He said more than 80 children had been treated for measles there.

“The most affected area of Chittagong Hill tracts is Kurukpata, one of the remotest parts of Bangladesh", he stated.

Local council head Kratpung Mro said the number of cases was unusually high and pointed to transport and poverty-related barriers that make treatment difficult for residents.

“People, mostly farmers, are among the poorest and cannot afford even boat or motorcycle fares to reach the hospital", he stated.

He also said the authorities should expand outreach and immunisation efforts in Indigenous communities.

The difficulties faced by families in the area were illustrated by Ngangoi Mro, a 30-year-old farmer, who brought his two-year-old son, Rengle Mro, to a clinic after the child developed a high fever, cough and diarrhoea.

“We walked four kilometres and then took a vehicle to the hospital from our village, as my boy became very weak", he stated.

Children in these rural areas are often missed by vaccination coverage, while some families also avoid immunisation programmes because of fear.

Children under five among most affected

Government figures show that since March 15, most suspected cases have been reported among children aged between six months and five years.

The World Health Organisation says measles is among the most contagious diseases in the world and spreads through coughs and sneezes. It can affect people of any age, though it is most common in children. The disease can also lead to serious complications, including brain swelling and severe respiratory illness.

Bangladesh health authorities are working with the support of the UN children’s agency, the WHO and the security forces to vaccinate children against the disease.

Unicef Bangladesh said nearly 9.5 million children had been vaccinated against measles-rubella.

The latest figures mark a sharp rise in the scale of the outbreak, which authorities have been trying to contain through an ongoing immunisation effort in affected areas.