Measles outbreak kills at least 15 in Bangladesh

DHAKA, Bangladesh — A measles outbreak in Bangladesh has led to 15 confirmed deaths, officials said on Wednesday, as the ​government readies to launch an emergency immunization programme ‌as part of efforts to try to contain the disease

DHAKA, Bangladesh — A measles outbreak in Bangladesh has led to 15 confirmed deaths, officials said on Wednesday, as the ​government readies to launch an emergency immunization programme ‌as part of efforts to try to contain the disease.

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Health Services Division Secretary Kamruzzaman Chowdhury said the deaths were confirmed after laboratory ​testing of 33 samples, conducted with support from the ​World Health Organization. “Of the tested samples, 15 deaths ⁠have been directly linked to measles infection,” he said.

Measles, ​among the most infectious of pathogens, requires that 95% of ​the population be vaccinated in order to prevent its spread.