Bangladesh measles deaths surpass 1,000 after vaccination drive falls short

What the report says

Bangladesh is facing what health officials and international agencies describe as the world’s worst ongoing measles outbreak, with the Directorate General of Health Services saying 1,002 children have died and 187,484 infections have been recorded since the outbreak began in March. The figures were reported on Wednesday, according to Al Jazeera’s coverage citing Bangladeshi health officials, Reuters and AFP.

The outbreak has hit young children especially hard. Al Jazeera reported that children under five made up more than 80% of cases early in the crisis, while the disease has continued to spread among infants who are too young to receive the full vaccine schedule. Measles is a highly contagious illness that can lead to severe complications, and it is generally preventable with two doses of vaccine.

Officials and global health bodies have linked the surge to weaknesses in Bangladesh’s immunisation system during political turmoil in 2024 and 2025. The health minister told parliament that procurement changes contributed to a vaccine shortage, while the World Health Organization and UNICEF pointed to gaps in routine coverage. A nationwide emergency vaccination campaign launched in April reached 18 million children, but officials said roughly four million were missed, leaving the country short of herd immunity.

The outbreak is also adding pressure to hospitals already dealing with a large dengue surge. For Bangladesh, the crisis highlights the public health risks that can follow interruptions in routine vaccination and the difficulty of catching up after large numbers of children are left unprotected.