Bangladesh’s measles death toll has reached 1,204 after three more children died with measles-like symptoms in the 24 hours to Tuesday morning, as the world’s worst outbreak of the disease continues to claim young lives.
The Directorate General of Health Services said 1,217 new suspected cases were reported in the same period, taking the nationwide tally to 215,768, with 42 more laboratory-confirmed infections bringing the confirmed total to 23,199, according to reports. Of the deaths, 104 were confirmed through laboratory tests while 1,100 involved children classified as suspected measles-related deaths.
Children under five bear the brunt
Children under five account for 94 per cent of the deaths, according to reports. Since March 15, a total of 191,761 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country, of whom 184,168 have recovered. The outbreak began in mid-March and has spread to 58 of the country’s 64 districts.
A Reuters investigation found the crisis was linked to faltering vaccination coverage: first-dose coverage fell to 90 per cent and second-dose to 86 per cent in 2025, well below the 95 per cent needed to prevent transmission. The interim government’s September 2025 decision to halt measles-rubella vaccine procurement through UNICEF, switching to an open tender that stalled, caused routine immunisation to collapse, according to reports.
A warning to the world
In response, Bangladesh has expanded vaccination beyond its routine programme, delivering measles vaccines to more than 20 million children since April, according to reports. WHO vaccine adviser Mark Jit called the outbreak “a real warning to every country”, saying prevention through vaccination was easier, cheaper and safer than emergency response. Health workers now face rebuilding one of the developing world’s most admired immunisation programmes under outbreak conditions, while misinformation about vaccine safety continues to travel faster than the vaccines themselves. Every day of delay risks more young lives.
