More than 500 children have died in an outbreak that the world is virtually ignoring
A severe measles outbreak in Bangladesh has resulted in over 500 child fatalities, yet it remains largely unrecognized globally. The outbreak, which began in mid-March, has led to more than 60,000 suspected cases, with the majority of victims being children under five. Contributing factors include malnutrition and disruptions in the vaccination program, which have exacerbated the crisis.
- ▪The measles outbreak in Bangladesh has resulted in over 528 suspected deaths among children.
- ▪More than 60,000 suspected cases of measles have been reported since mid-March.
- ▪Malnutrition is a significant factor in the outbreak's severity, with 1 in 4 children under five being stunted.
- ▪The country's vaccination program faced disruptions due to bureaucratic delays and a change in government.
- ▪Healthcare facilities are overwhelmed, leading to difficulties in providing care for affected children.
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Global Health More than 500 children have died in an outbreak that the world is virtually ignoring May 24, 20269:00 AM ET By , Gabrielle Emanuel Thirteen-month-old Jannat cries as her mother Sohana, a garment worker, tries to feed her. The child is hospitalized for measles at DNCC Hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Anike Rahman for NPR hide caption toggle caption Anike Rahman for NPR Hantavirus and Ebola are making headlines. But another deadly outbreak is unfolding that's barely registered on the global scene. "We've been crying out loud about this from the beginning, but it has been a silent situation," says Hasina Rahman. "There hasn't been much attention around it." She's talking about a devastating measles outbreak in Bangladesh.
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