Bangladesh faces worsening measles outbreak as infections surge, hospitals overwhelmed, and experts urge expanded vaccination, public awareness, and urgent catch-up campaigns to contain child deaths, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk
Bangladesh is grappling with a severe measles outbreak as infections surge across the country, with 18 children currently admitted at Chattogram Medical College Hospital’s paediatric ward and new cases reported daily.
Muhammad Musa, head of the Paediatric Department at CMCH, confirmed that all patients have been isolated to curb further spread. Health authorities say the outbreak has claimed at least 38 lives this year, including 32 in March alone. The Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Mohakhali, Dhaka, accounted for 21 of these deaths, highlighting intense pressure on the capital’s healthcare facilities.
Experts point to gaps in vaccination coverage as the main driver of the outbreak. Many children are outside the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) or have not completed the full dosage schedule. Factors such as missed appointments, lack of parental awareness, illness-related delays, and occasional vaccine shortages have left a significant portion of children vulnerable. Despite high overall coverage, nearly 10 per cent of children remain unvaccinated, with postponed catch-up campaigns further exacerbating the risk.
High population density and widespread child malnutrition have accelerated transmission. Shrebash Paul, junior consultant at IDH, said the hospital admitted 560 measles patients in the first three months of 2026, compared to just 69 during the same period last year. Monthly admissions jumped from 35 in January to 88 in February and spiked sharply in March. Testing results indicate that 90 per cent of samples are positive this year, compared to only 10 per cent in previous years. Most infected children are under nine months old and have not yet received vaccination.
Hospitals are under severe strain, with patients treated on cabin floors, corridors, and even near lifts due to bed shortages. Although the government has directed other hospitals to admit measles patients to ease the burden, medical facilities remain overstretched.
Health experts have called for urgent measures, including improved vaccination coverage, accelerated public awareness campaigns, and immediate implementation of catch-up vaccination programmes to control the outbreak and prevent further fatalities.
