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Dhaka, Bangladesh — <\/span>Bangladesh is carrying out emergency vaccinations to try to stop an ongoing outbreak of measles-rubella, which has killed more than 100 children in less than a month.<\/p>\n The government, in partnership with the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children’s Agency and the Gavi vaccine alliance, on Sunday began vaccinating children aged 6 months to 5 years in 18 high-risk districts and will expand across the country in phases from next month, a joint statement said.<\/p>\n A UNICEF official said the agency was deeply concerned by the sharp rise in cases, which was putting the youngest and most vulnerable children at grave risk. “This resurgence highlights significant immunity gaps, particularly among zero-dose and undervaccinated children, while infections in infants under nine months of age, who are not yet eligible for routine vaccination, are particularly worrying,” said Rana Flowers, the agency’s representative in Bangladesh.<\/p>\n According to official figures, more than 900 cases of measles have been confirmed out of 7,500 suspected cases reported since March 15. south asian nation<\/a> Out of more than 170 million people.<\/p>\n According to WHO, measles is a highly contagious airborne disease that causes fever, respiratory symptoms and rash and can sometimes lead to serious or fatal complications, especially in young children.<\/p>\n Vaccination is important to stop the spread of measles, but WHO says 95% of the population needs to be vaccinated to stop the disease from spreading.<\/p>\n Bangladesh Health Minister Sardar Mohammad Sakhawat Hossain, replying to questions in parliament on Monday, said the new outbreak was caused by mismanagement and failures of previous governments.<\/p>\n He said that the previous government Deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina<\/a> and an interim government led by a Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus<\/a> Failed to take appropriate decisions regarding vaccine stockpiles, leading to shortages of vaccines for measles and six other diseases.<\/p>\n