Emergency jabs after 100 children die of suspected measles in a month in Bangladesh
Bangladesh Launches Urgent Measles Vaccination Drive After Surge in Child Deaths
Bangladesh has initiated a rapid immunization effort following a measles outbreak that has claimed over 100 lives, primarily among young children. This may mark the deadliest wave of the disease in the nation’s recent history, according to health ministry records. The campaign began on Sunday, addressing a spike in suspected cases exceeding 7,500 since March 15th, with more than 900 confirmed infections.
Local media report that the number of cases has surged dramatically compared to 2025, when only 125 measles infections were recorded throughout the year. Despite long-standing efforts to vaccinate children as early as nine months old, the outbreak has revealed critical shortcomings in the program. Rana Flowers, Unicef’s representative in Bangladesh, emphasized the importance of vaccines for child survival, warning that the current crisis poses a severe threat to thousands of young and vulnerable children.
“Vaccines are foundational to child survival,” said Rana Flowers. “The current measles outbreak is putting thousands of children, especially the youngest and most vulnerable, at serious risk.”
Shahriar Sajjad, a Health Department deputy director, noted that nearly one-third of those infected in the outbreak were under nine months old, who are not yet eligible for routine immunizations. This trend has raised alarm, as the disease spreads more rapidly among unvaccinated infants. Bangladesh also organizes periodic measles campaigns every four years, but these have been delayed since 2020 due to the pandemic and subsequent political instability.
The country faced major political unrest in 2024, which led to the resignation of long-time leader Sheikh Hasina. An interim government took control, and a new administration was elected in February. Sajjad explained that a planned April vaccination drive failed to materialize, partly due to challenges in vaccine procurement. The Daily Star reported that shortages, including for measles vaccines, have hindered efforts.
Alongside international partners like Unicef and the World Health Organization, Bangladesh is now targeting more than 1.2 million children aged six months to five years. The campaign will prioritize those who missed routine doses and focus on high-risk areas such as Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar, home to Rohingya refugee camps. Health officials are also distributing infographics to help communities recognize and prevent measles.
Measles remains a highly contagious airborne illness, capable of causing severe complications and death. The WHO estimates that nearly 95,000 measles-related deaths occurred globally in 2024, most affecting children under five. While global measles cases and fatalities have declined significantly over the past two decades—from 38 million in 2000 to 11 million in 2024—the Lancet highlights that 2024 and 2025 saw the highest number of outbreaks in over 20 years, with rising cases in parts of Asia and Africa.
