The outbreak of measles in Bangladesh is now a major concern, with over 60,000 suspected cases and more than 500 confirmed or suspected deaths among children. UNICEF’s Emmanuelle Abrioux expressed devastation over the situation, emphasizing that measles is preventable. The disease, highly contagious and preventable through vaccination, poses a significant risk to children under five, especially those who are unvaccinated.
The decline in vaccination rates in recent years has contributed to the surge in measles cases. Political turmoil in 2023 and 2024 disrupted immunization programs, leading to missed vaccinations for many children. A change in vaccine procurement methods in 2025 caused supply-chain issues, resulting in vaccine shortages and tragic consequences, such as the death of a four-year-old girl from measles.
In response to the crisis, Bangladesh has launched a massive child vaccination campaign in collaboration with UNICEF, WHO, and the Gavi Vaccine Alliance. The campaign aims to vaccinate over 17.8 million children aged six months to five years to achieve a coverage rate of at least 95%. Despite initial progress in high-risk districts, overall transmission rates remain high, indicating that more efforts are needed to combat the outbreak effectively.
