Bangladesh's measles outbreak kills hundreds of children despite mass vaccination drive
An emergency campaign vaccinated nearly 20 million children, but Bangladesh still leads the world in measles cases this year and the death toll keeps climbing.
What to know
- Death tolls differ by source: BBC (Sept 17) reports over 1,000 deaths since March, while The Conversation (Sept 22) cites almost 900 — likely reflecting suspected versus confirmed figures.
- Despite vaccinating nearly 20 million children, Bangladesh still records roughly 1,000 new suspected measles cases daily and has more total cases in 2026 than any other country, per WHO.
- Vaccination coverage had slid to 87% nationally after pandemic disruption and political instability; Unicef alleges the post-Hasina interim government delayed vaccine orders, which officials dispute.
- The government is set to move into an 'intensified phase' of its vaccination campaign on September 26 to reach children still unvaccinated.
Muhammad Yunus Bangladesh's former interim leaderUnicef UN children's agencyWorld Health Organization (WHO) Global health bodyDr Mushtuq Husain Public health expertSave the Children NGO responder
How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts
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Government to enter 'intensified phase' of vaccination campaign — Unicef tells the BBC that on 26 September the Bangladeshi government will move into an intensified phase of its campaign aimed at reaching children who have not yet been vaccinated.
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The Conversation frames Bangladesh's outbreak as a warning for other countries
An analysis piece puts the suspected death toll at almost 900 and traces the outbreak to years of sliding vaccination coverage, now at 87%, worsened by pandemic disruption, political instability, and vaccine hesitancy, warning other countries with falling vaccination rates face similar risk.
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BBC reports death toll passes 1,000 as Bangladesh leads world in measles cases
BBC reports more than 1,000 people, mostly children, have died since March, with over 194,000 cases and roughly 1,000 new suspected cases reported daily despite 19.8 million children already vaccinated. WHO data shows Bangladesh has recorded more measles cases than any other country so far in 2026.
“The outbreak spread nationwide before vaccination activities were implemented, creating extensive transmission chains that take time to fully interrupt…”
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More than 1,000 children dead in Bangladesh measles outbreak Do NOT underestimate this virus! This is the consequence of delays in the vaccination programme, resulting exposures and despite an emergency vaccination campaign.
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More than 1,000 children dead in #Bangladesh #measles outbreak
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Hospitals overwhelmed as Unicef flags earlier vaccine-order delays — BBC visits hospitals operating at more than double capacity, with families lying on blankets on the floor; the health minister acknowledges strain on the system. Unicef says it had warned about vaccine supply gaps tied to the interim government's delayed vaccine orders.
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Bangladesh launches its first national measles campaign since 2020 — The emergency campaign begins in early April in 30 sub-districts across 18 priority districts before expanding nationwide later that month, alongside a vitamin A drive for infected children and activation of district rapid response teams.
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Measles surges nationwide as Bangladesh's vaccine advisory group approves emergency campaign — After years of eroding routine immunisation, measles cases surge across Bangladesh in March. The country's vaccine advisory group approves an emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign for children aged six months to five years, with extra doses for infants six to eight months.