Full Breakdown
Bangladesh Faces the World’s Largest Measles Outbreak
By Drooid · · How we work
Outbreak Overview
Since mid-March 2026, Bangladesh has recorded 202,000 suspected measles cases, with 22,000 laboratory-confirmed, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The disease has claimed 1,147 lives, 94 % of them children under five. The Sylhet region alone reports 180 child deaths, making Bangladesh the country with the highest number of suspected measles cases worldwide this year.
Background & Context
Bangladesh’s routine measles immunisation programme faltered in 2025, with first-dose coverage falling to 90 % and second-dose coverage to 86 %, below the 95 % threshold the WHO cites as necessary to prevent outbreaks. The decline followed political turmoil after the 2024 protests that ended Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule, during which health-worker strikes, delayed vaccine orders and disrupted follow-up vaccinations weakened the system. Until 2024, WHO and UNICEF estimated coverage at 96 % for the first dose and 93 % for the second.
Data & Statistics
- Suspected cases (mid-March – Oct 9): 202,000 (WHO).
- Laboratory-confirmed cases: 22,000 (WHO).
- Reported deaths: 1,147 (WHO) vs. 1,189 reported by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
- Children < 5 years: 94 % of deaths (WHO).
- Daily average new cases in September: 1,198 (WHO).
- Vaccination campaign reach: nearly 20 million children vaccinated in April–May; a September drive targeted an additional 3.4 million.
- Unregistered children: up to 40 % of the child population (UNICEF & Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics).
- Vacant health-worker posts: about one-third of positions (government data).
Official Statements & Responses
Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain announced in May that the emergency drive had reduced hotspot cases “almost to zero,” but later acknowledged a resurgence in September as daily averages climbed.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The WHO’s death toll of 1,147 differs from the DGHS figure of 1,189, reflecting uncertainty in surveillance. WHO and UNICEF also flagged inconsistencies in official vaccination data for 2023-2025, noting instances where reported inoculations exceeded 100 % of the target population, suggesting counting errors or inaccurate eligibility estimates. These gaps hinder precise identification of unvaccinated communities.
Timeline
- March 15: DGHS begins systematic tracking of measles infections and deaths.
- April 19: Government, WHO and partners conduct a single round of readiness checks before launching the emergency vaccination campaign.
- May 2026: Health Minister declares hotspot cases “almost to zero.”
- September 14: Adviser Hyder publicly acknowledges a vaccination gap as cases rise again.
- October 9: WHO reports cumulative 202,000 suspected cases and 1,147 deaths.
- October 17: Reuters notes the outbreak as the world’s worst measles surge this year.
What’s Next
The September campaign aims to reach the 3.4 million children missed in earlier rounds, focusing on village-level engagement. WHO and UNICEF investigations seek to improve data reliability and expand routine immunisation to children over five, who now account for roughly one-third of measles cases. Health officials are also monitoring a concurrent dengue epidemic that strains hospital capacity, as illustrated by overcrowded wards at Sylhet’s Shahid Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital.