Measles outbreak kills nearly 1,000 children in Bangladesh

A measles outbreak in Bangladesh has killed nearly 1,000 children this year, with over 166,000 suspected cases recorded since March despite an emergency vaccination campaign. The government launched the vaccination drive with WHO, UNICEF, and Gavi after more than 100 children died in under a month. Health officials report 19,835 lab-confirmed infections, with children arriving at hospitals suffering complications like pneumonia and encephalitis. Vaccination gaps from pandemic disruptions and a missed 2024 campaign left many children unprotected. Bangladesh previously recorded only 100 to 300 cases annually between 2021 and 2025, down from 2,410 in 2020.