DHAKA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Dozens have died from measles and related complications so far this year in Bangladesh, as the highly contagious disease continues to spread in parts of the country.
Doctors and health officials in Dhaka said measles cases began rising in December and have escalated sharply this month.
Of the 38 deaths reported so far this year, 32 occurred this month alone -- 21 of them at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Dhaka, including three on Sunday, leading local newspaper The Daily Star reported on Monday.
While Dhaka remains the epicenter, a growing number of infections have been reported in other regions.
Experts attributed the outbreak to gaps in immunization coverage, particularly the long intervals between specialized measles vaccination campaigns, as well as the cyclical nature of such outbreaks that tend to resurface every few years.
Health authorities warned that measles often leads to severe complications in children, including pneumonia, diarrhea, and infections of the ears and brain. ■