A severe measles outbreak in Bangladesh has surpassed 50,000 confirmed and suspected cases, marking one of the country's deadliest health crises in decades. Since mid-March 2026, the outbreak has claimed more than 415 child deaths, placing the healthcare system under severe strain.
Despite emergency measures by the government, including a nationwide vaccination campaign, infections and deaths linked to measles and measles-like symptoms continue to rise.
In the last 24 hours alone, six children died with measles-like symptoms, while 1,459 new cases were reported. With the latest figures, the death toll since March 15 has reached 415 and the total number of infections has climbed to 50,500.
Of the six deaths reported during the period, three were recorded in Dhaka, two in Chattogram and one in Mymensingh, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) measles report released on Monday.
The report said 415 children have died nationwide from measles and measles-like symptoms over the past six weeks. Among them, 65 deaths were confirmed as caused by measles, while 350 children died with measles-like symptoms.
Health authorities said that since March 15, a total of 50,500 children have developed measles-like symptoms. During the period, 35,980 children were admitted to hospitals, of whom 31,992 have recovered and returned home.
The DGHS also reported that 6,937 children have been confirmed with measles infection since March 15.
Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain said it would take four weeks for vaccinated children to develop immunity, after which the situation would begin to stabilise.
Speaking to reporters after visiting Barisal Sadar Hospital on Monday, he said measles vaccination was supposed to be administered every four years, but the programme lost continuity after 2020.
"Since there was no continuity after 2020, measles has taken hold in the current situation," he said.
The minister also said the current government initially had no measles vaccine stock but managed to procure doses within a short period. He added that the number of patients had started to decline.
Meanwhile, the government is continuing its nationwide vaccination drive to contain the outbreak. According to Monday's DGHS report, the target is to vaccinate 18,016,914 children across the country. So far, 17,999,976 children have received the vaccine.
