Bangladesh is currently experiencing a severe and rapidly escalating measles outbreak, with government figures indicating more than 120,000 suspected and confirmed cases since mid-March 2026. This sudden surge has led to nearly 750 deaths, predominantly among children, overwhelming the nation's healthcare system. Hospitals, such as the Medical College Hospital in Mymensingh, are operating at more than double their capacity, forcing many patients, including critically ill infants, to receive care in hallways on blankets.
The scale of the outbreak is particularly alarming given that Bangladesh had previously made significant strides towards measles elimination, with vaccination rates consistently above 90% until recently. Dr Mohammed Golam Mawla, a paediatrician in Mymensingh, described the situation as an unprecedented outbreak. The World Health Organisation had acknowledged Bangladesh's substantial progress in combating the disease, making the current reversal a cause for serious concern.
UNICEF spokesperson in Bangladesh, Miguel Mateos Muñoz, attributes the crisis to a "perfect storm" of factors. Alleged delays in vaccine orders by the interim government, which took office following political turmoil in 2024, are a major point of contention. UNICEF claims they raised concerns last year about potential vaccine gaps if the interim administration restructured procurement processes without allowing sufficient time. While the new government under Tarique Rahman claims to have discovered a vaccine shortage upon taking office, a former top health ministry official under the interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, denies any such shortage, stating that UNICEF's communications did not contain specific warnings about a potential outbreak.
Beyond procurement issues, other elements are believed to have exacerbated the situation. The COVID-19 pandemic caused disruptions to routine immunisation programmes, and there has been a notable absence of regular measles-rubella mass vaccination campaigns since 2020. Overcrowding, a persistent issue in many parts of Bangladesh, combined with increased travel during the recent Eid holiday, has also contributed to the rapid spread of the highly contagious disease.
The impact on families is devastating, with parents like Mohammad Alam Mia struggling to secure treatment for their children. His four-month-old son, Arafat, diagnosed with pneumonia and heart failure—both common complications of measles—has been hospitalised for two weeks without significant improvement, highlighting the severe strain on medical resources and the financial burden on families.
This outbreak in Bangladesh is not an isolated incident globally. The United Kingdom, which had achieved measles elimination status, recently lost it due to a rise in cases, and the United States has also reported an increase in measles infections in recent years. Globally, vaccination coverage among children under five in both the UK and US falls short of the recommended 95% threshold needed for herd immunity, underscoring a broader international challenge in maintaining high immunisation rates.