Measles outbreak kills nearly 1,000 in Bangladesh as vaccination gaps fuel crisis

A measles outbreak in Bangladesh has killed nearly 1,000 people, mostly children, since the start of 2026, following setbacks to the country's vaccination program. Thousands of children are hospitalized, with the death toll rising daily. The government has recorded over 166,000 suspected cases, including nearly 20,000 lab-confirmed infections, and launched an emergency vaccination drive in March with WHO and UNICEF. Disruptions from the pandemic and political upheaval in 2024 left many children unvaccinated, creating a coverage gap. Officials trade blame over the shortfall, while doctors report exhaustion treating severe complications like pneumonia and encephalitis. Health workers say the situation is improving but not fast enough to curb the crisis.