Measles outbreak in Bangladesh is a ‘real warning’ to other nations, experts say

Key Points:

• Bangladesh is facing the world's worst measles outbreak with over 202,000 suspected cases and 1,147 deaths, primarily among children under five, due to a drop in vaccination coverage below the WHO-recommended 95% threshold.
• The outbreak was worsened by political turmoil in 2024-2025, which disrupted routine vaccination programs, delayed vaccine orders, and caused health worker strikes, resulting in lower immunization rates and gaps in data accuracy.
• Emergency vaccination campaigns in response to the outbreak missed millions of children due to insufficient preparedness checks, data inconsistencies, and challenges in reaching remote or hesitant populations.
• Health officials acknowledge ongoing difficulties in achieving full coverage, with as many as 40% of children unregistered and a significant number of health worker positions unfilled, complicating efforts to control the epidemic.
• Experts warn that Bangladesh’s experience highlights the critical importance of maintaining high vaccination rates and effective healthcare infrastructure to prevent deadly outbreaks, especially as waning immunity and other diseases like dengue further strain the health system.