Bangladesh reported 202,000 suspected measles cases between the start of the outbreak in mid-March and October 9, according to the WHO. Of these, 22,000 were laboratory-confirmed. Reports put the death toll at 1,147 so far in 2026, and about 94 per cent of the victims were under five years old. That is more suspected cases than any other country this year.
How a Success Story Faltered
Bangladesh’s measles vaccination programme had long been seen as a success. Suspected cases were only around 7,000 nationwide in 2023. Routine vaccination faltered in 2025 amid political turmoil, and unvaccinated children are now paying the price. Experts also point to weak data and inadequate outreach as factors that made the crisis worse.
Hospitals Under Pressure
In the north-eastern Sylhet region, one of the worst-hit areas, the 100-bed Shahid Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital appeared overwhelmed in September. A two-year-old boy, Arman Hossain, died unvaccinated in July, a day after he was admitted. Sylhet is just one example of the strain across the country.
What the Government Says
Officials say an emergency vaccination drive has brought cases in hotspots almost to zero and that the outbreak is under control. Yet Bangladesh still reported a daily average of 1,198 new cases in September. A prime ministerial adviser blamed vaccine hesitancy by parents, or child illnesses, for keeping some children away. The government has promised to reach every child, and the WHO has pledged support.
A Warning for Other Nations
Public health experts say the outbreak is a real warning for other countries where immunisation rates are slipping. Preventing an outbreak through vaccination is easier, cheaper and safer than responding to an emergency. As one expert put it, the response will stop the outbreak eventually, but many will have caught measles, and some will have died by then.
What Parents Should Do
Health authorities urge parents to check that children have received both doses of the measles vaccine. Any child with fever and rash should be taken to a health facility promptly.
Discover More Like This Article
1. How serious is Bangladesh’s measles outbreak?
Since March, Bangladesh has recorded more than 187,000 infections and over 1,000 deaths, most of them children under five, according to the report. Read more about the measles outbreak and the dual health crisis in hospitals.
2. Why are measles and dengue spreading at the same time in Bangladesh?
Monsoon rains create mosquito breeding grounds for dengue and push people into crowded indoor spaces where measles spreads faster. See how two outbreaks are straining hospitals.
3. How many children has Bangladesh vaccinated against measles?
The UN’s July bulletin says about 18.3 million children were vaccinated nationwide, and a later situation report put the figure above 18.4 million. Check the UN humanitarian response across 64 districts.
4. Did the measles vaccination drive reach the Rohingya camps?
Yes. The campaign reached 94 per cent of the more than 178,000 targeted children in the Cox’s Bazar camps and 99 per cent on Bhasan Char. Read more about flood recovery and measles control in Bangladesh.
5. Why did measles return to Bangladesh?
No nationwide measles-rubella campaign was held after 2020, and vaccine supply disruptions during the political transition widened the immunity gap. Learn why a vaccine-preventable disease made a comeback.
