Bangladesh is grappling with its most severe measles outbreak in decades, with suspected cases claiming the lives of nearly 1,000 children since the beginning of the year. The Directorate General of Health Services reported that the death toll reached 999 by Tuesday. The country has recorded over 166,000 suspected measles cases, including 19,835 laboratory-confirmed infections, according to the Ministry of Health.
The government, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the Gavi vaccine alliance, launched an emergency vaccination drive in March. Initially targeting children aged 6 months to 5 years, the campaign was later expanded nationwide. Measles, a highly contagious airborne disease, can lead to severe complications, particularly in young children, and requires a 95% vaccination coverage rate for effective community protection.
However, the vaccination program has faced significant setbacks. According to estimates from the WHO and UNICEF, the recommended second dose of the measles vaccine was administered to about 86% of children in Bangladesh last year, a decrease from 93% in 2024. This dip in coverage has left a growing number of children vulnerable.
Disruptions to Vaccination Campaigns
Factors contributing to the decline in vaccination rates include disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which interrupted routine immunizations, and the government's failure to conduct a routine vaccination campaign in 2024. A neonatal and child specialist at Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute noted that many children born between 2021 and 2022 missed their vaccinations during the pandemic. Additionally, vaccine unavailability at many centers during a previous interim government period exacerbated the issue.
Political upheaval also played a role in the outbreak's severity. The current government, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, has blamed the preceding administrations, including that of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and interim leader Muhammad Yunus, for planning failures that led to vaccine shortages and delayed coverage. The 2024 measles vaccination campaign was particularly disrupted during the political transition that saw Hasina leave the country in August 2024, followed by Yunus's interim administration which transferred power after an election in February.
From exile in India, Hasina has placed blame on the Yunus-led government for the current health crisis.
Ongoing Challenges
Despite ongoing efforts, medical professionals report that the situation remains challenging. Doctors at Bangladesh Shishu Hospital are treating children who often arrive with serious complications such as pneumonia, diarrhea, and encephalitis. "For the past six months, we have been treating measles patients continuously, and we are exhausted," stated one doctor. While the situation is improving, it is not yet under control.