Bangladesh is facing a severe measles outbreak that has claimed nearly 1,000 lives this year, with children accounting for a large share of the victims. The outbreak, which began intensifying in March, has spread across the country despite an emergency vaccination campaign launched by the government in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and the Gavi vaccine alliance. The rapidly rising number of infections has placed considerable pressure on the country’s healthcare system, with hospitals treating thousands of children suffering from serious complications.
According to Bangladesh’s Directorate General of Health Services, the number of deaths linked to suspected or confirmed measles cases had reached 999 by Tuesday. More than 166,000 suspected measles cases have been reported since the outbreak began, including nearly 20,000 laboratory-confirmed infections. The scale of the outbreak has raised concerns among health experts that years of progress made by Bangladesh in controlling the highly contagious disease have been seriously undermined by gaps in routine immunisation.
The crisis has been particularly devastating for young children. Doctors treating patients at Bangladesh Shishu Hospital in Dhaka have reported a continuous influx of children suffering from measles and complications associated with the disease. Some patients arrive with pneumonia, diarrhoea and encephalitis, or inflammation and swelling of the brain. Medical workers have described the prolonged situation as exhausting, with hospitals struggling to accommodate the large number of patients requiring treatment.
The outbreak has been linked to interruptions in Bangladesh’s vaccination programme over the past several years. Routine immunisation was disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic, while vaccination campaigns were subsequently affected by political instability. A major measles vaccination campaign planned for 2024 was disrupted, while another nationwide measles-rubella campaign was cancelled the following year, leaving a growing number of children without adequate protection.
Health specialists have warned that these missed vaccinations created significant immunity gaps in the population. Children who missed routine doses during the pandemic and subsequent disruptions have now become vulnerable to infection. Experts have also raised concerns about shortages of vaccines at some vaccination centres, further complicating efforts to restore coverage.
Bangladesh had previously made considerable progress against measles. For much of the past decade, vaccination coverage remained around or above the 95% level recommended by the WHO to prevent sustained transmission. Between 2021 and 2025, the country generally recorded only a few hundred measles cases annually, a substantial improvement from previous years. However, the decline in immunisation coverage has allowed the virus to spread among children who were left unprotected.
The government responded to the outbreak by launching an emergency vaccination drive, initially focusing on children between six months and five years of age before expanding the campaign nationwide. The campaign aims to close immunity gaps and prevent further transmission. However, health experts say vaccination efforts need to be accompanied by stronger monitoring, improved vaccine availability and greater public awareness.
The outbreak has also become entangled in political disagreements. Bangladesh’s current government has blamed shortcomings under previous administrations for disruptions in vaccine procurement and immunisation programmes. The political upheaval surrounding the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024 further affected public-health operations. Former officials and political figures have disputed responsibility for the vaccine shortages and delays.
Doctors and epidemiologists have stressed that the immediate priority should be protecting children who remain unvaccinated while ensuring that routine immunisation services are restored. Experts have also called for stronger surveillance to identify communities with low vaccination coverage and for targeted vaccination campaigns in areas where infections are rising.
The situation has become even more challenging because Bangladesh is simultaneously dealing with a major dengue outbreak, putting additional pressure on hospitals and medical staff. With measles cases continuing to emerge and thousands of patients requiring hospital care, health authorities face the difficult task of controlling two major infectious disease outbreaks at the same time.
The measles crisis has therefore emerged as a major warning about the consequences of interruptions in routine childhood vaccination. Although measles is highly contagious, it is largely preventable through timely vaccination. Health experts say Bangladesh’s experience demonstrates the importance of maintaining uninterrupted immunisation programmes, even during periods of political instability or other national emergencies. Without sustained efforts to close vaccination gaps, improve surveillance and ensure reliable vaccine supplies, the country risks losing further ground in its fight against a disease it had previously brought under much stronger control.
