Bangladesh measles kills 1,002 children, officials say

Bangladesh's measles outbreak has killed 1,002 children and infected 187,484 since March, the Directorate General of Health Services said Wednesday, making it the country's deadliest outbreak in decades.

DGHS spokesman Zahid Raihan said authorities had vaccinated more than 18 million children but had not achieved herd immunity. Official figures show around four million children were left out of the campaign, leaving vulnerable pockets.

Raihan said vaccination teams were searching for children who had missed inoculations. He also said controlling the outbreak required action on chronic malnutrition among children, which can worsen the disease's impact.

Measles spreads through coughs and sneezes and has no specific treatment once caught. Complications can include brain swelling and severe breathing problems, and young children are particularly vulnerable.

The crisis is adding pressure to Bangladesh's healthcare system during a dengue surge. Health department data recorded nine dengue deaths on Tuesday, 1,571 hospital admissions, 45,475 dengue cases and 130 deaths since January. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to inaugurate a three-month nationwide anti-dengue campaign on Saturday.