Bangladesh Launches Measles Vaccination Drive After 100 Child Deaths

Bangladesh has initiated an emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign following a severe outbreak that has killed more than 100 children in less than a month. The drive, which began on April 5, 2026, is an effort to contain what may be the most lethal wave of the disease in the country’s recent history.

According to health ministry data, there have been more than 7,500 suspected measles cases since March 15, 2026. Of these, more than 900 cases have been confirmed. This represents a sharp increase compared to 2025, a year in which local media reports indicate only 125 measles cases were recorded nationwide.

Emergency Vaccination Strategy

The government of Bangladesh is conducting the emergency vaccination drive in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations children’s agency (UNICEF), and the Gavi vaccine alliance. The current phase of the campaign targets children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years.

The rollout began on April 5, 2026, in 18 high-risk districts. A joint statement indicated that the campaign will expand nationwide in phases starting in May 2026.

Public health officials emphasize that widespread immunization is the only way to halt the transmission of the virus. The WHO maintains that 95% of the population must be vaccinated to stop the disease from spreading.

Factors Driving the Outbreak

While Bangladesh has long maintained a child immunization programme for measles, the current surge has exposed significant gaps in the system. The newly elected government stated that mismanagement by previous regimes resulted in programme gaps within vulnerable areas and a shortage of vaccine stockpiles.

A particular point of concern for health officials is the vulnerability of the youngest infants. In Bangladesh, routine measles vaccines are typically administered to children starting at nine months of age. However, data from the Health Department indicates that approximately one-third of those infected in the current outbreak were under nine months old.

This resurgence highlights critical immunity gaps, particularly among zero-dose and under-vaccinated children, while infections among infants under nine months, who are not yet eligible for routine vaccination, are especially alarming.

Rana Flowers, UNICEF representative in Bangladesh

Flowers further stated on April 5, 2026, that vaccines are foundational to child survival and warned that the outbreak is putting thousands of children, especially the most vulnerable, at serious risk.

Medical Context and Global Trends

Measles is a highly contagious airborne disease. According to the WHO, We see characterized by fever, respiratory symptoms, and a distinct rash. In young children, the virus can lead to severe or fatal complications.

The situation in Bangladesh mirrors a broader global resurgence of the disease. In 2024, more than 11 million measles cases were recorded worldwide, a trend attributed to falling vaccination rates.

Other nations have faced similar challenges in recent years:

• In the United Kingdom, a fatal outbreak occurred in 2026, resulting in two deaths.
• In the United States, more than 2,000 cases were registered in 2025, marking the worst spread the country has seen in three decades.

To supplement routine immunization, Bangladesh typically conducts special measles vaccination campaigns every four years, though reports indicate these recent efforts have not proceeded according to plan.