Bangladesh measles deaths near 500 but vaccines offer hope

Bangladesh has rolled out a mass vaccination campaign to combat its deadliest measles outbreak in decades that has killed nearly 500 children in just two months, the United Nations children's agency said Wednesday.

Deaths are still rising, with six children dying in the past 24 hours alone, taking the toll from the preventable disaster to 481, according to health ministry figures. But a nationwide immunisation drive has now reached 18 million children, UNICEF country chief Rana Flowers told reporters. She stressed the need to strengthen vaccination programmes and increase funding for health facilities, surveillance and data systems in the future.