Bangladesh is facing a continuing measles outbreak despite routine immunisation and emergency vaccination efforts, with reported infections and deaths still increasing about six months after the spread began. Government figures cited on August 19 said 918 children had died, including 99 confirmed measles deaths and 819 deaths with measles symptoms. More than 162,000 children had been affected, while more than 1,000 infections and three deaths were reported on Tuesday.

The Directorate General of Health Services said Dhaka division recorded the highest death toll, at 423, and the highest number of measles and symptomatic cases, at 74,595 children. World Health Organization analysis found that 90 percent of those who died had received no vaccine. Children under five accounted for 72 percent of infections, while 20 percent of deaths were among infants younger than six months.

Public health experts attributed the crisis to insufficient vaccine coverage, delayed risk assessment, weak contact tracing and isolation, nutritional deficiencies, and management failures. An MR campaign vaccinated 18.48 million children aged six months to five years, but later figures indicated about 4.1 million children in that group were missed. Experts called for stronger surveillance, isolation, hospital arrangements, staff training and vaccination coverage of at least 95 percent.