Emergency jabs after 100 children die of suspected measles in a month in Bangladesh
Emergency Vaccination Drive Initiated in Response to Measles Surge in Bangladesh
Bangladesh has launched an urgent vaccination initiative following a measles outbreak that has claimed over 100 lives, primarily among children, in less than a month. This may mark the deadliest wave of the disease in the nation’s recent history, prompting authorities to act swiftly. The campaign began on Sunday, addressing a growing crisis that has seen more than 7,500 suspected cases since March 15, according to health ministry records.
Over 900 of these cases have been confirmed, a stark rise compared to 2025, when only 125 measles infections were reported nationwide throughout the entire year, as noted by local media. Despite longstanding efforts to vaccinate children against the contagious disease, the recent surge has revealed critical gaps in the program. Rana Flowers, Unicef’s representative in Bangladesh, highlighted the severity of the situation in a statement, stating, “Vaccines are foundational to child survival,” and warning that the outbreak is “putting thousands of children, especially the youngest and most vulnerable, at serious risk.”
Infants Under Nine Months Face Unique Challenges
Bangladesh’s routine measles immunization targets children as young as nine months, yet nearly a third of those infected in the current outbreak are under that age, according to Shahriar Sajjad, deputy director of the Health Department. He told BBC Bangla that the infections among these unvaccinated infants are “especially alarming.”
Special measles campaigns, held every four years, have also faltered. Sajjad explained that these initiatives were postponed since 2020 due to the pandemic, then disrupted by a “political situation.” Bangladesh’s 2024 upheaval, which saw anti-government protests overthrow long-standing leader Sheikh Hasina, created further delays. An interim government took control after her removal, and it wasn’t until February that a new administration was elected. A planned April campaign “did not happen,” he said, citing procurement issues as a key obstacle.
Global Trends Highlight Concerns
The Lancet reported that 2024 and 2025 saw the highest number of measles outbreaks in over two decades. Cases have spiked in parts of Asia and Africa as vaccination rates decline. The WHO noted that 95,000 global deaths were attributed to measles in 2024, with the majority affecting children under five. While global measles cases dropped from 38 million in 2000 to 11 million in 2024, the organization has raised alarms about renewed outbreaks due to reduced immunization rates.
In response, Bangladesh has partnered with international organizations like Unicef and the WHO to launch a joint emergency campaign targeting measles and rubella. This effort will cover 30 upazilas—sub-districts—and aim to vaccinate over 1.2 million children aged six months to five years. Priority will be given to those who missed routine shots and are most at risk of complications. Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar, home to densely populated areas and Rohingya refugee camps, are also key focus zones.
Alongside the vaccination push, health officials are distributing infographics to educate communities on recognizing and preventing measles. The disease, an airborne and highly infectious illness, can lead to severe complications and death. Public awareness remains a critical component in curbing its spread.
“Bangladesh has a strong history of high immunisation coverage, but even small disruptions can lead to the gradual accumulation of immunity gaps over time,” Unicef emphasized in its statement.
Health authorities attribute vaccine shortages to procurement challenges, though some blame the previous interim government for implementing a new system that delayed supplies. The emergency campaign seeks to close these gaps and protect the population from further outbreaks.
