Grim Milestone

Bangladesh's deadliest measles outbreak in decades is nearing the grim milestone of 1,000 child deaths, as a devastating epidemic sweeps through the country and crowded hospital wards fill with struggling babies. At least 986 children have died since March, while suspected and confirmed cases have surged past 180,000.

"Just an hour ago, a child died, and they wheeled him out in front of us," 30-year-old Rima Akter told AFP, keeping a vigil beside her nine-month-old son at Dhaka's Shishu Hospital. "We saw two children die today." More than 1,000 suspected cases are reported daily.

Very weak

Measles is highly contagious, spreading through coughs and sneezes, and has no specific treatment once caught. Complications can include brain swelling and severe breathing problems. The South Asian nation of 170 million has rolled out a mass vaccination drive, but case numbers continue to climb.

Doctors say many of the children arriving at hospital are already critically ill, with malnutrition further weakening their ability to fight the virus. "His lungs were already very weak from the pneumonia, then with measles his breathing was affected more," said 19-year-old Sanjana Islam Modina, cradling her six-month-old son Ayan, who has been on oxygen constantly for five days. The outbreak has exposed gaps in Bangladesh's vaccination efforts, after a measles drive planned for 2024 was delayed.