Measles cases

Bangladesh urgently vaccinates more than a million children

Bangladesh has launched a campaign in which more than a million children will be vaccinated against measles, Reuters reports. It is taking place during an outbreak that has so far led to 17 deaths, according to confirmed figures. Another 113 people are suspected of having died in the outbreak and more than 7,500 are believed to have been infected.

The campaign prioritizes children aged six months to five years, who are at the highest risk of becoming seriously ill.

Cases of infection have been detected in 56 of the country's 64 districts, the news agency reports.

Expert blames outbreak on politicians: "Scary"

The measles outbreak in Bangladesh can be partly explained by the government's failure to procure vaccines despite having money set aside for it. This is what public health expert Tajul Islam A Bari told AFP.

- Now we are seeing the results. The situation is scary.

On Sunday, a major vaccination campaign began in the country, covering more than a million children.