Full Breakdown
Bangladesh Faces World’s Largest Measles Outbreak Amid Vaccination Gaps
By Drooid · · How we work
Outbreak Overview
- WHO recorded 202,000 suspected measles cases and 22,000 confirmed infections in Bangladesh from mid-March to Oct 9.
- 1,147 deaths, 94 % among children under five (WHO).
Decline in Routine Immunisation
- In 2024, WHO/UNICEF estimated 96 % first-dose and 93 % second-dose coverage; a July 2025 report showed a fall to 90 % and 86 % respectively.
- The drop followed political turmoil after the 2024 protests that ended Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule; health-worker strikes and delayed orders disrupted services.
Emergency Vaccination Campaign and Shortcomings
- An emergency drive in April–May claimed to vaccinate nearly 20 million children aged six months to five years (government).
- Minutes from the April 19 meeting show only one round of readiness checks before launch, versus the usual four.
- A June intervention listed 4 million more children than the measles campaign, indicating many were missed.
- Confirmed cases unvaccinated were 82 % pre-campaign and 85 % post-campaign, suggesting limited impact.
On-the-Ground Impact
- Families in Sylhet reported health workers often arrived after a child’s death, leaving many unprotected.
Official Statements & Responses
- Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain (May) said cases in hotspot districts had fallen “*almost to zero*.”
- On Sept 14, Ziauddin Hyder, special assistant on health affairs to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, warned of a vaccination “*gap*,” citing parental hesitancy and illness (Reuters).
Data Gaps and Reliability Concerns
- WHO/UNICEF flagged inconsistencies in 2023-2025 vaccination data, with some reports exceeding 100 % of the target population.
- UNICEF and the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics estimate up to 40 % of children are unregistered, hindering identification.
- Government data show roughly one-third of health-worker posts are vacant.
Ongoing Challenges and Outlook
- WHO data show children over five years old account for about one-third of cases; experts urge extending vaccination to this group.
- A concurrent dengue epidemic strains services; Sylhet’s 100-bed Shahid Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital had 178 measles patients on a visit day.
- The September-end campaign targeting 3.4 million children is underway, while the outbreak continues to generate ?1,200 new cases per day in September (WHO).