Bangladesh grapples with world’s largest measles outbreak

Bangladesh is currently experiencing the world’s largest measles outbreak, with a prolonged vaccination shortfall leaving thousands of children vulnerable to the highly contagious disease.

According to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Bangladesh currently has the largest reported measles outbreak in the world. Between March 15 and September 9, a total of 1,002 people have died after developing measles or measles-like symptoms.

Health Ministry data show that more than 146,000 suspected measles patients have been admitted to hospitals since the outbreak began.

Health experts attribute the surge largely to disruptions in routine immunisation programmes during periods of political instability in 2024 and 2025. Interruptions in vaccine supplies subsequently left a large number of children without adequate protection against measles.

Experts have also pointed to weak monitoring and oversight of vaccination programmes, as well as changes in vaccine procurement policies, as factors that disrupted supplies.