Bangladesh measles toll nears grim 1,000-child mark

Asia More than 1,000 suspected cases are reported daily. A child receives treatment for measles at Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute in Dhaka on Sep 3, 2026. (Photo: AFP/Salahuddin Ahmed) 05 Sep 2026 10:38AM DHAKA: 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.Cries of sick children and the hiss of oxygen machines fill the air at Dhaka's Shishu Hospital, where Rima Akter keeps a vigil beside her nine-month-old son."Just an hour ago, a child died, and they wheeled him out in front of us," 30-year-old Akter told AFP on Thursday (Sep 3). "We saw two children die today."Akter's son Sabit Haque is one of scores filling the c