Emergency jabs after 100 children die of suspected measles in a month in Bangladesh

Emergency Jabs After 100 Children Die of Suspected Measles in a Month in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is now deploying an urgent vaccination initiative following a rapidly escalating measles outbreak that has claimed over 100 lives, predominantly among young children, marking what could be the nation’s deadliest wave of the disease in recent memory. The campaign began on Sunday, responding to health ministry records showing more than 7,500 suspected cases since mid-March. Of these, over 900 have been confirmed, a dramatic rise from the 125 cases reported across the entire year in 2025, as noted by local media.

Routine measles vaccines are administered to children from nine months old, yet approximately one-third of those affected in the current outbreak are under that age, according to Shahriar Sajjad, deputy director of the Health Department. This highlights a critical issue: infants too young for standard immunizations are increasingly at risk. Rana Flowers, Unicef’s representative in Bangladesh, emphasized that the outbreak is endangering thousands of children, especially the most vulnerable, stating, “Vaccines are foundational to child survival.”

“The current measles outbreak is putting thousands of children, especially the youngest and most vulnerable, at serious risk.” — Rana Flowers, Unicef representative in Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s vaccination schedule includes periodic special campaigns every four years, but these have faltered in recent years. Since 2020, no such campaign has been held, initially due to the pandemic and later because of a “political situation,” Sajjad explained to BBC Bangla. The nation faced significant political turmoil in 2024 when mass anti-government protests led to the ousting of long-time leader Sheikh Hasina. An interim government took control, and it wasn’t until February this year that a new administration was elected.

Despite the crisis, the country had planned a measles campaign for April, which was canceled due to procurement challenges. Health officials cited shortages of vaccines, including measles, as reported by the Daily Star. Some critics attribute this to the former interim government’s management of the procurement system, though Unicef noted that measles resurgences typically stem from cumulative gaps in immunization rather than a single cause. “Bangladesh has a strong history of high immunisation coverage, but even small disruptions can lead to gradual immunity gaps,” the organization stated.

Measles Vaccination Campaign Targets Over 1.2 Million Children

The emergency campaign, which began on Sunday, will cover 30 upazilas across the country and focus on children aged six months to five years. Priority will be given to those who missed routine vaccinations, as well as areas like Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar, where densely populated regions and refugee camps heighten the risk of transmission. Alongside the campaign, health authorities are distributing infographics to educate communities on recognizing and preventing measles.

Measles, a highly contagious airborne illness, can lead to severe complications and fatalities. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that in 2024, around 95,000 global deaths were linked to the disease, mostly affecting children under five. To halt its spread, the WHO stresses that 95% of the population must be vaccinated. Globally, measles cases have plummeted over the past two decades, from 38 million in 2000 to 11 million in 2024. However, the Lancet noted that 2024 and 2025 saw the highest number of outbreaks in over 20 years, with increases observed in parts of Asia and Africa as vaccination rates decline.