Bangladesh has launched an emergency vaccination campaign after nearly 100 people lost their lives, most of whom were children, due to a suspected measles infection in the country.
According to the health ministry data quoted by the BBC, more than 7,500 suspected measles cases have occurred since March 15, prompting the government to launch an emergency remedial campaign for the infectious disease. Health ministry figures show there have been 17 confirmed deaths from measles so far, with 113 suspected deaths nationwide.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's government blamed the Interim government of Muhammad Yunus for its failure to provide vaccines on time for measles.
The DGHS report suggests the outbreak has hit the hardest in the northwestern Rajshahi region, where health officials have stepped up surveillance and case-tracking, as per PTI.
Why are children more vulnerable to measles?
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), in 2024, there were an estimated 95,000 measles deaths globally, mostly among unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children under the age of 5 years.
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Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. It can affect anyone, but is most common in children.
As per the WHO, measles infections are more likely in children who are malnourished, especially those without enough vitamin A or with a weak immune system from HIV or other diseases. Measles itself also weakens the immune system and can make the body 'forget' how to protect itself against infections, leaving children extremely vulnerable.
Bangladesh health officials said the vaccination rates experienced a significant decline in 2024 and 2025 when the interim government ran the country, while previously most Bangladeshi children received the vaccine on time.
There have been no special measles vaccination campaigns since 2020, first because of Covid, then because of the 'political situation', Shahriar Sajjad, deputy director of the Health Department, told BBC Bangla.
Independent health experts told PTI that the actual toll could be higher as measles testing is either not done or patients die before testing.
