Bangladesh now has the world's worst measles outbreak, with 999 deaths

Bangladesh is now fighting the largest measles outbreak in the world. Since March 2026, 999 people have died from measles, and there are more than 166,000 suspected cases.

Bangladesh had a strong child vaccination programme. But after a political crisis in 2024, the government changed and routine vaccinations were interrupted. A planned measles-rubella campaign was delayed and cancelled. The new government changed how vaccines were bought. It stopped buying directly through UNICEF and used a new buying system instead. UNICEF said this system was not suitable for urgent supplies. Bangladesh usually gets about 70 million vaccine doses a year, but in 2025 UNICEF secured only 17.8 million, so warehouses were nearly empty.

Measles spreads very easily, but two vaccine doses can prevent it. Children under five made up about 80 percent of early cases, and babies under nine months were nearly one third of cases. At one Dhaka hospital, there are 60 measles beds, but it is caring for more than 2,350 people, so many patients lie on the floor. Dr. Nanda Dulal Saha, the acting director, said, "Patients are pouring in, and it is very difficult to accommodate everyone."

In April, the government started an emergency campaign for children aged six months to under five years. It aimed to reach about 18 million children, and more than 19.7 million have been vaccinated. But experts say one emergency dose is not enough, because measles needs two doses for lasting protection. Professor Mahmudur Rahman said, "The saddest part is that the victims are children."