BANGLADESH MEASLES CRISIS NEARS 1,000 DEATHS AS HOSPITALS OVERWHELMED

Bangladesh is battling its worst measles outbreak in decades, with the number of suspected and confirmed measles-related deaths approaching 1,000, most of them children. Health authorities have recorded more than 166,000 suspected cases since the outbreak intensified in March, while hospitals across the country struggle to cope with the growing number of sick children.

The crisis has been linked largely to gaps in routine childhood immunisation. Vaccination programmes were disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic and political upheaval in 2024 and 2025, leaving thousands of children vulnerable. Health officials said coverage for the recommended second measles vaccine dose fell from 93 per cent in 2024 to about 86 per cent in 2025, weakening the population's protection against the highly contagious disease.

The impact has been particularly severe among young children. Health data indicate that children under five accounted for about 80 per cent of cases during the early stages of the outbreak. Many infected children have developed serious complications, including pneumonia, diarrhoea and encephalitis, placing additional pressure on already overcrowded paediatric hospitals.

In response, the Bangladeshi government, working with the World Health Organisation, UNICEF and the Gavi vaccine alliance, launched an emergency vaccination campaign targeting millions of children. The campaign has reached nearly 20 million children, but health experts say vaccination gaps remain a major concern and that stronger routine and catch-up immunisation programmes are needed to prevent further transmission.

The outbreak represents a major setback for Bangladesh, which had previously maintained measles vaccination coverage above the 95 per cent level generally considered necessary to prevent sustained transmission. Health experts have called for stronger monitoring, reliable vaccine supplies and greater public awareness, warning that without urgent action, the continuing outbreak could place even more children at risk.