< Back to all clusters
[HEALTH] · Bangladesh · 19 sources

started · updated

Bangladesh measles outbreak deaths surpass 1,000

Bangladesh is facing a severe measles outbreak, with health officials reporting that the death toll has surpassed 1,000 children. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has recorded over 168,000 suspected cases and nearly 20,000 laboratory-confirmed infections since the outbreak began in March.

Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain informed parliament that the crisis was driven by vaccine shortages resulting from procurement policy changes under the interim government. The country’s immunization coverage was further compromised by political instability following the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, which led to the postponement of a 2024 vaccination campaign and the cancellation of a planned 2025 campaign.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified the situation in Bangladesh as the largest measles outbreak in the world. In response, the government, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the Gavi vaccine alliance, has launched emergency vaccination drives targeting children aged six months to five years.

Entities

Bangladesh · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · Directorate General of Health Services · Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain · Sheikh Hasina · Sylhet · UNICEF · World Health Organization

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Sources