Bangladesh measles outbreak claims 991 lives as child infections surge

Bangladesh’s ongoing measles outbreak has claimed the lives of 991 children and others suffering from measles

DHAKA: Bangladesh’s ongoing measles outbreak has claimed the lives of 991 children and others suffering from measles and measles-like symptoms since the outbreak began in mid-March, health authorities said on Saturday.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), four additional deaths linked to measles and related symptoms were reported across the country during the past 24 hours. Of the total fatalities, 100 have been officially confirmed as measles-related deaths, including one child who died during the latest reporting period.

The outbreak has affected several parts of Bangladesh, with the Dhaka division recording the highest number of deaths. Health authorities said 464 deaths have been reported in the division alone, highlighting the severity of the outbreak in the country’s densely populated areas.

The number of new infections and suspected cases has also continued to rise. The Health Ministry reported 843 new cases involving measles-like symptoms over the past 24 hours, while 74 additional cases were confirmed as measles infections.

With the latest figures, the country’s total number of reported cases involving measles-like symptoms has reached 163,105. Confirmed measles infections now stand at 19,641, according to the latest DGHS data.

The outbreak has placed considerable pressure on Bangladesh’s healthcare system, particularly facilities treating children. Since mid-March, a total of 143,214 infected children have been admitted to hospitals across the country for treatment. Of these, 137,921 children have recovered and were discharged, while thousands remain affected by the continuing outbreak.

Bangladesh, a South Asian nation with a population of around 175 million, has been facing difficulties in controlling the spread of measles amid concerns over declining vaccination coverage. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that reduced immunisation rates have weakened the country’s previous protection against the highly contagious disease.

The WHO said Bangladesh had historically maintained herd immunity against measles, meaning a sufficiently high proportion of the population was protected through vaccination to limit the spread of the virus. However, declining vaccination coverage in recent years has weakened that protection and contributed to the current outbreak.

In response, the Health Ministry has stepped up vaccination efforts. Since April 5, authorities have vaccinated nearly 19.48 million children through a special immunisation programme introduced alongside the country’s routine vaccination services.

Despite these efforts, officials are preparing to expand the vaccination drive further as cases continue to be reported. Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain said on Friday that another nationwide special vaccination campaign would be launched toward the end of September.

The new campaign will operate in addition to Bangladesh’s routine immunisation programme and is aimed at increasing vaccination coverage among children and helping contain the spread of measles.

Health authorities are continuing to monitor new cases, hospital admissions and deaths as they work to bring the outbreak under control. The scale of the outbreak has renewed concerns over the importance of maintaining high vaccination coverage, particularly among children who remain most vulnerable to serious complications from measles.