Bangladesh, once considered a success story in the fight against measles, is now facing one of the country’s largest outbreaks in recent years. Since March, more than 120,000 confirmed and suspected cases have been reported, while nearly 750 people—mostly children—have died.
Health officials and UNICEF say the outbreak was triggered by delayed vaccine procurement, interrupted immunisation campaigns following the COVID-19 pandemic, political instability and increasing pressure on the healthcare system. Together, these factors led to a sharp decline in vaccination coverage.
Hospitals across the hardest-hit regions are struggling to cope with the number of patients. Doctors report overcrowded wards, shortages of beds and growing numbers of children suffering serious complications such as pneumonia and heart failure.
In April, the Bangladeshi government and UNICEF launched an emergency vaccination campaign that has already reached more than 18 million children. Although the number of new cases has started to decline, health experts warn that the outbreak is not yet under control.
Public health specialists say the crisis highlights the importance of maintaining routine immunisation programmes. Even a temporary disruption, they warn, can allow highly contagious diseases such as measles to spread rapidly once again.
