Bangladesh is experiencing its most severe measles outbreak on record, with health officials reporting at least 1,002 child deaths and 187,484 confirmed infections since the outbreak began in March. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has characterized the situation as the largest measles outbreak currently occurring globally. Mahmudur Rahman, a former director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research in Dhaka, described the crisis as unprecedented in the country’s history, noting that Bangladesh has never before experienced such high mortality rates or case numbers from the disease in a single year.
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection characterized by fever and a distinctive rash. While the disease itself has no specific treatment, it is preventable through a two-dose vaccination regimen. Young children, particularly infants too young to receive vaccines, have been disproportionately affected, accounting for over 80 percent of cases during the early stages of the outbreak. Severe cases can result in serious complications including encephalitis and respiratory distress.
The World Health Organization and UNICEF have attributed the outbreak to disruptions in Bangladesh’s immunization program that occurred in 2024 and 2025 during political instability following the departure of then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Health Minister Sardar Husain informed parliament that modifications to vaccine procurement policies during this period resulted in shortages of available doses. The government launched an emergency nationwide vaccination campaign in April that reached 18 million children, but approximately four million children remained unvaccinated due to logistical challenges.
DGHS spokesman Zahid Raihan stated that the campaign failed to achieve herd immunity thresholds necessary to contain transmission. He indicated that vaccination efforts would continue and acknowledged that measles eradication remains an ongoing goal, with current priorities focused on reducing casualty rates. The health infrastructure is simultaneously contending with a significant dengue fever surge, with more than 45,000 people hospitalized for the mosquito-borne illness and record admission and mortality numbers reported.
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