Bangladesh measles outbreak kills over 290 children amid vaccine procurement crisis

Bangladesh is experiencing a severe measles outbreak that has claimed at least 294 child lives, with 5,313 confirmed cases and more than 40,000 suspected infections reported in early May 2026. Health officials attribute the surge to a breakdown in vaccine procurement after the July 2024 protests, when the interim government halted UNICEF‑supplied vaccines and switched to an open‑tender process, causing nationwide shortages and a sharp drop in immunisation rates. UNICEF warned the government of the risks, but the procurement delay continued, prompting calls for an independent investigation and a formal public‑health emergency declaration.

Across Europe, the World Health Organization recorded 33,998 measles cases in 2025, and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported six deaths in early 2026 (four in France, one in the Netherlands, one in Romania). Italy, Spain, France and Poland accounted for the bulk of 139 cases reported in February 2026. In the United Kingdom, the Health Security Agency logged 477 laboratory‑confirmed cases through April 2026, a sharp increase driven largely by children under ten, highlighting a broader resurgence linked to declining MMR vaccination coverage.

Health authorities stress that measles remains highly contagious, especially for young children, pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals, and urge vaccination as the primary preventive measure.