Bangladesh Launches Emergency Vaccination Campaign Amid Measles Crisis

Mon Apr 06 2026 13:53:29 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Over 100 deaths, mostly among children, have been reported due to a measles outbreak in Bangladesh, prompting the government to initiate an emergency vaccination campaign targeting millions at risk.

Bangladesh is facing a severe measles outbreak, leading to the deaths of more than 100 people, primarily children. In response, the government has launched an emergency vaccination campaign aimed at over 1.2 million children aged six months to five years. Health officials have highlighted weaknesses in the existing vaccination program, particularly among infants under nine months old who are not yet eligible for routine vaccinations.

Bangladesh has launched an emergency vaccination campaign after a fast-spreading measles outbreak is suspected of killing more than 100 people, mostly children, in what may be the country's most lethal wave of the disease in recent history.

The campaign, which began on Sunday, comes amid more than 7,500 suspected measles cases since March 15, according to health ministry data.

More than 900 of these cases have been confirmed - a sharp increase from 2020, when just 125 measles cases were recorded over the entire year.

While Bangladesh has long vaccinated children against the highly contagious disease, the recent outbreak has exposed gaps in its programme, raising concern. Vaccines are foundational to child survival, said Rana Flowers, the UNICEF representative in Bangladesh, highlighting the severity of the current situation.

Why is there a spike in measles in Bangladesh?

In Bangladesh, a nation of 170 million people, routine measles vaccines are given to children as young as nine months old. However, about one-third of those infected in the recent outbreak were under nine months old, according to health officials.

Health officials recognized that interruptions in routine vaccinations due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a political upheaval in 2024 have contributed to the failure of vaccination campaigns. The last special measles vaccination campaign was planned for April but did not happen due to various issues, raising alarm about the vulnerabilities of children.

What is Bangladesh doing about it?

Bangladesh is collaborating with international partners like UNICEF and WHO to implement an emergency vaccination drive, targeting over 1.2 million children between six months and five years. The campaign will focus particularly on vulnerable populations, including children who have missed routine shots and those in high-density areas like Dhaka and the populated Rohingya camps.

Measles, known for its contagiousness, can lead to severe complications and death, particularly among unvaccinated children. The urgency of this campaign underscores the alarming resurgence of measles in Bangladesh and reflects broader issues seen globally as vaccination rates have plateaued or declined in various regions.

UNICEF has issued warnings that the accumulation of immunity gaps can lead to outbreaks and highlighted the importance of sustaining vaccination efforts.