Bangladesh fights world's worst measles outbreak as vaccination gaps fuel spread

Bangladesh fights world's worst measles outbreak as vaccination gaps fuel spread.

Key points

• Since the outbreak emerged in March, Bangladesh has recorded more than 166, 000 suspected measles cases, including 19, 835 laboratory-confirmed infections, according to the health ministry data.
• The hospital, designed for 1, 350 patients, is at present caring for more than 2, 350, he stated.
• Bangladesh is at present experiencing the biggest measles outbreak in the world, according to a list on the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention website.
• More than 45, 000 individuals have been admitted to hospital for dengue this year, according to health ministry data.
• Nasima Begum, 35, a house support, stated her 13-month-old son contracted measles almost two months ago.

Bangladesh fights world's worst measles outbreak as vaccination gaps fuel spread. Reuters Published September 9, 2026 Updated September 9, 2026 01: 26pm. Join our Whatsapp Channel. Add Dawn as a trusted source.

Bangladesh, which once came close to eliminating measles, is facing its worst outbreak on record, with 999 suspected and confirmed measles-related deaths documented since March as hospitals struggle with overcrowding, shortages and a continuing influx of sick children.

When the country was going through political turmoil after a deadly uprising against then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina, the prolonged outbreak, despite a nationwide emergency vaccination campaign introduced in April, follows disruption to routine immunisation in 2024 and 2025, experts stated.

Health authorities and experts stated missed vaccinations and vaccine supply challenges as of the political upheaval had left children vulnerable, particularly infants under nine months who are too young to obtain routine vaccinations, helping fuel transmission throughout age groups.

Since the outbreak emerged in March, Bangladesh has recorded more than 166, 000 suspected measles cases, including 19, 835 laboratory-confirmed infections, according to the health ministry data. While more than 146, 000 suspected patients have been hospitalised, the outbreak has been linked to 999 deaths, including 100 confirmed measles fatalities.

Experts blamed the outbreak on subdued programme oversight, insufficient monitoring and procurement policy changes under the interim administration that replaced Hasina, disrupting vaccine availability and leaving plenty of children unprotected against the highly infectious disease.

Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain informed parliament on Monday the procurement changes triggered a vaccine shortage while the 2024 postponement of a vaccination programme and the cancellation of a nationwide measles-rubella campaign the after year left more children vulnerable to infection.

Notably, the World Health Organisation (WHO), Unicef and other health agencies have additionally pointed to the disruption to immunisation schedules. Under-fives accounted for regarding 80 per cent of cases during the early stages of the disease's spread.

Meanwhile, the outbreak follows years of progress towards measles elimination. Bangladesh maintained high measles vaccination coverage for much of the past decade, with rates staying at or above the 95pc level recommended by the WHO for most of the period, apart from a dip during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bangladesh missed its measles elimination target since of vaccination gaps in 2024 and 2025, stated Professor Mahmudur Rahman, an epidemiologist and former director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research.

"To my knowledge, Bangladesh has never witnessed so plenty of children dying from measles. Nor have we ever seen such a high number of patients in a single year. This is a truly terrible situation, and the saddest part is that the victims are children, " he remarked.

Rahman remarked closing immunity gaps, increasing vaccination coverage and stepping up public awareness were immediate priorities to contain the outbreak.

Hospitals are struggling to cope with the surge in measles cases at a time when growing numbers of dengue patients are putting extra pressure on an already overstretched healthcare system.

More than 45, 000 individuals have been admitted to hospital for dengue this year, according to health ministry data. While admissions climbed to 1, 571, both daily highs for the year, on Tuesday, dengue deaths rose to nine.

Patients are pouring in, and it is particularly challenging to accommodate everyone, noted Dr. Nanda Dulal Saha, acting director of the state-run Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital in Dhaka, adding the hospital at present had 60 beds for measles patients, but numerous were being treated on the floor.

Saha remarked a shortage of paediatric saline. It can assist alleviate the symptoms of measles, was complicating the situation.

In practice, the hospital, designed for 1, 350 patients, is at present caring for more than 2, 350, he stated.

For families, the outbreak has meant weeks of uncertainty, repeated hospital visits and mounting costs.

Nasima Begum, 35, a house support, stated her 13-month-old son contracted measles almost two months ago. After failing to secure a bed at four hospitals, he was finally admitted and discharged 10 days afterwards, but continues to suffer recurring fever and has yet to fully recover.

Begum remarked her son missed his vaccination as he was sick. When they returned to the vaccination centre afterwards, they were informed the vaccine was unavailable. Unlike her youngest son, her four older children had received their routine vaccinations.

Mohammad Ripon, a factory worker, remarked his eight-month-old daughter developed a rash and other measles-like symptoms days after being discharged from hospital, forcing the family to seek treatment at multiple facilities before turning to a dedicated measles hospital for answers.

We are just hopping around from one hospital to another, Ripon remarked. We are not getting the correct information at all.

Bangladesh's emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign targeted regarding 18 million children aged six months to under five years. More than 19.7m children have since been vaccinated, according to health ministry data, but experts remarked stronger routine immunisation and catch-up campaigns were still needed.

Meanwhile, the twin health crises of measles and mosquito-borne dengue, a debilitating illness linked to warmer temperatures and urbanisation, underscore the challenge facing Bangladesh's health system in maintaining routine services while responding to preventable infectious diseases.

Although measles is one of the world's most contagious diseases and typically causes fever and a tell-tale rash, it can be prevented with two doses of vaccine.

"We are poor and cannot afford treatment. I only pray that my son recovers, " Begum remarked.

"I don't want any other mother to see her child suffer or die from this disease."

Taken together, the developments around bangladesh fights world' s worst measles outbreak as vaccination gaps fuel spread point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.