Emergency jabs after 100 children die of suspected measles in a month in Bangladesh
Emergency Jabs After 100 Children Die of Suspected Measles in Bangladesh
Bangladesh has initiated an urgent measles vaccination drive following a rapidly spreading outbreak linked to over 100 deaths, primarily among children, potentially marking the nation’s deadliest such episode in recent years. The campaign, which began on Sunday, comes amid more than 7,500 suspected cases reported since March 15, as per health ministry data. Over 900 of these cases have been confirmed, a sharp rise from the 125 recorded in 2025, according to local media.
Despite long-standing vaccination efforts, the recent surge has highlighted weaknesses in the program. “Vaccines are foundational to child survival,” said Rana Flowers, Unicef’s representative in Bangladesh, in a statement. “The current outbreak is putting thousands of children, especially the youngest and most vulnerable, at serious risk.” Routine measles vaccines are given to infants from nine months old, yet one-third of those infected in the outbreak were under this age, raising concerns about their susceptibility.
“Infections of young infants, who are not yet eligible for routine vaccination, are especially alarming,” Flowers added.
Bangladesh typically conducts special measles campaigns every four years, but these have been delayed since 2020. The pause was first due to the pandemic, then attributed to “political situation,” as explained by Shahriar Sajjad, deputy director of the Health Department. The country’s political upheaval in 2024, which ousted long-ruling leader Sheikh Hasina, led to an interim government. A new administration was elected in February, but the planned April vaccination campaign did not materialize.
Vaccine shortages, including for measles, were cited as a key factor. Health officials pointed to procurement issues, while some blamed the former interim government for introducing a new system that affected supply. Unicef noted that measles resurgences are typically the result of accumulated gaps rather than a single cause. “Bangladesh has a strong history of high immunisation coverage, but even small disruptions can lead to gradual immunity gaps over time,” the organisation stated.
As part of the emergency response, the campaign will target more than 1.2 million children aged six months to five years across 30 upazilas. Priority will be given to those who missed routine immunisation and are most at risk of severe illness. Dhaka, the densely populated capital, and Cox’s Bazar, home to crowded Rohingya refugee camps, are among the areas receiving focus.
Health authorities are also distributing infographics to educate the public on identifying and preventing measles. The disease, which spreads through airborne transmission, can lead to life-threatening complications. The WHO reported that measles killed an estimated 95,000 people globally in 2024, with most victims under five. To curb outbreaks, a vaccination rate of 95% is required to stop the virus from spreading.
Over the past two decades, global measles cases have fallen from 38 million in 2000 to 11 million in 2024. However, the Lancet noted that 2024 and 2025 saw the highest number of outbreaks in over 20 years, with cases increasing in several Asian and African countries. This trend underscores the fragility of immunisation efforts amid ongoing challenges.
