Measles Outbreak in Bangladesh Claims Lives of 46 Children, Prompts Emergency Vaccination Campaign

A severe measles outbreak in Bangladesh has resulted in the deaths of at least 46 children, with health authorities confirming 684 cases since late January. The outbreak has spread rapidly in densely populated urban areas, overwhelming hospitals. In response, Bangladesh's National Immunisation Technical Advisory Group recommended lowering the vaccination age to six months for a special nationwide campaign scheduled to begin in early June, while maintaining the routine schedule of first dose at nine months and second at 15 months. Health officials report that over a third of confirmed cases involve infants under nine months. Dr. Tajul Islam A Bari, an immunologist based in Dhaka, noted that while vaccinating earlier is necessary during outbreaks, effectiveness drops from about 85% at nine months to below 50% at six months. Dr. Ziauddin Hyder, Health Advisor to the Prime Minister, stated that 2,268 children have been hospitalized with suspected measles, including 168 new infections reported recently. The outbreak is attributed to declining vaccination coverage, with first-dose coverage dropping to 56.5% in 2025, nearly half of previous levels. Bangladesh last conducted a nationwide measles campaign in 2020, and a planned follow-up in 2024 was canceled due to political unrest. The government plans to vaccinate up to 20 million children aged six months to five years during the emergency campaign, extending to ten years in high-risk districts. However, delays in obtaining supplies like syringes have slowed the rollout. Health Minister Sardar Muhammad Sakhawat Hossain emphasized that most cases are among unvaccinated children, and authorities are investigating the outbreak's origin amid concerns about re-emergence of the disease.