DHAKA — Bangladesh is fighting the world’s largest measles outbreak, with 999 suspected and confirmed measles-related deaths reported since March and more than 166,000 suspected cases, Reuters reported, citing Health Ministry figures and a U.S. CDC outbreak list.
Hospitals are overcrowded as measles coincides with a heavy dengue season. More than 146,000 suspected measles patients have been hospitalised; under-fives accounted for about 80 percent of early cases. Al Jazeera later reported deaths surpassing 1,000 as officials said an emergency drive still missed millions of children.
The crisis follows immunisation disruptions in 2024 and 2025 during political turmoil after the ouster of then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain told parliament procurement changes triggered vaccine shortages, while postponed campaigns left coverage gaps. WHO and UNICEF have highlighted broken routine schedules.
Bangladesh once maintained measles vaccination rates at or above the 95 percent herd-immunity threshold recommended by WHO for much of the past decade. Second-dose coverage fell to about 86 percent last year from 93 percent in 2024, according to WHO/UNICEF estimates cited in wire coverage.
An emergency measles-rubella campaign launched in April targeted roughly 18 million young children; officials say more than 19.7 million have since been vaccinated, yet epidemiologists warn catch-up work remains unfinished. “Bangladesh missed its measles elimination target because of vaccination gaps in 2024 and 2025,” said Professor Mahmudur Rahman, a former disease-control director.
Measles is highly contagious but preventable with two vaccine doses. The outbreak is a reminder that political disruption and supply failures can erase years of public-health gains within a single season.
Sources: Reuters; AP; Al Jazeera
