Fast-spreading measles outbreak has killed at least 30 in Bangladesh, WHO says

Bangladesh has confirmed 30 deaths in a measles outbreak that has spread rapidly across the country, with most of the victims aged under two, the World

Health Organization said on Thursday.



In what it described as a reversal of progress towards measles elimination in Bangladesh, the WHO said there had also been another 166 suspected deaths from the disease since mid-March.



Health experts said it was the highest death toll from measles in decades. More than 19,000 suspected cases were reported from March 15 to April 14 and nearly 3,000 cases were confirmed in laboratory tests, the WHO said.



With children under five accounting for about 79% of cases, the WHO linked the rapid spread to gaps in population immunity following a decline in vaccination coverage in recent years and disruptions to routine immunisation services.