Key facts
- Bangladesh is experiencing its worst measles outbreak on record, with 999 suspected and confirmed deaths since March.
- Over 166,000 suspected measles cases have been recorded since the outbreak began.
- Hospitals are overcrowded and facing shortages, struggling to accommodate both measles and dengue patients.
- Experts blame the outbreak on weak program oversight, vaccine shortages, and missed vaccinations due to political upheaval.
- An emergency vaccination campaign has vaccinated over 19.7 million children.
Bangladesh is grappling with its most severe measles outbreak on record, reporting nearly 1,000 suspected deaths since March as hospitals face overcrowding and shortages. The surge in cases, which has seen over 166,000 suspected infections, is attributed by experts to significant gaps in routine immunisation caused by political turmoil and changes in vaccine procurement policies. These disruptions left children, particularly infants too young for routine vaccination, vulnerable to the highly infectious disease. The country's healthcare system is further strained by a concurrent rise in dengue cases. Despite an emergency vaccination campaign that has vaccinated over 19.7 million children, experts emphasize the need for stronger routine immunisation and catch-up efforts to close immunity gaps and control the outbreak.