A measles outbreak is sweeping through Bangladesh, claiming the lives of approximately a thousand children in the worst outbreak of the disease in the country in decades, as hospital wards are filled with infants struggling to survive.
A thirty-year-old woman named Akhtar told the AFP news agency, which the news video agency obtained, "Just an hour ago, a child died and they brought him in front of us; we saw two children dying today."
According to the latest figures from the Ministry of Health, at least 986 children have died since March, while the number of confirmed and suspected cases has exceeded 180,000.
Measles is a highly contagious disease transmitted through coughing and sneezing, and there is no specific treatment once infected.
Its complications can lead to brain swelling and severe respiratory problems, and although the disease can affect anyone, children are at greater risk of its dangers.
Bangladesh, with a population of 170 million, launched a widespread vaccination campaign to combat the outbreak, but the number of infections continues to rise.
The hospital currently has 101 children suspected or confirmed to have measles.
Most cases in Bangladesh during the current outbreak have been recorded among children aged between six months and five years.
Doctors have reported that many children arrive at hospitals in critical condition, while malnutrition worsens their ability to resist the virus.
The outbreak has revealed gaps in Bangladesh's efforts to protect its children; Ziauddin Haider, special assistant to Prime Minister Tariq Rahman on health issues, described the outbreak as "devastating."
Bangladesh had made significant progress in vaccinating against infectious diseases, but a measles campaign scheduled for 2024 was delayed due to the uprising that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Labor strikes and political instability also delayed the 2025 campaign.
Since then, the country has launched a broad vaccination campaign to combat the outbreak, but the number of infections continues to rise.
Mahmudur Rahman, an epidemiologist and former director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research, believed that Bangladesh should consider launching a broader vaccination campaign to contain the outbreak.
He pointed out that public awareness is also essential, emphasizing the importance of preventive measures, including isolating infected children, handwashing, and caregivers wearing masks.
As for Akhtar, she does not need anyone to remind her how quickly the disease spreads; she said, "We realize how quickly this disease spreads. Our son was initially hospitalized due to bronchitis."