Measles outbreak kills nearly 1,000 children in Bangladesh

A measles epidemic in Bangladesh has killed nearly 1,000 children this year, following setbacks in the national vaccination program. An eight-month-old infant is among thousands of hospitalized children fighting for their lives in Dhaka. The death toll reached 999 from suspected cases since January, with over 166,000 suspected infections reported. An emergency vaccination campaign launched in March with WHO, UNICEF, and Gavi targets children aged six months to five years, though coverage has declined from 93% in 2024 to 86% last year. Disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic and political upheaval in 2024, including the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, caused vaccine shortages and missed campaigns. Bangladesh previously recorded only 100-300 annual cases between 2021 and 2025.