Bangladesh measles outbreak kills over 500 children as vaccination campaign expands

A severe measles outbreak in Bangladesh has caused more than 500 child deaths, with the health ministry reporting 512 fatalities as of 20 May. The majority of the victims are children under five, many of whom were unvaccinated or under‑nourished. Authorities have recorded over 57,000 suspected cases and around 8,000 laboratory‑confirmed infections across all 64 districts.

The government has launched a nationwide measles‑rubella vaccination drive that has already reached 18 million children, surpassing its target with a reported 102 % coverage. UNICEF’s country chief, Rana Flowers, said the campaign aims to continue for another month, focusing on hard‑to‑reach areas where transmission remains high. Hospitals in Dhaka are overwhelmed, with intensive‑care beds in short supply. Pediatrician Ainul Islam Khan told AFP, “Here, most children arrived with respiratory difficulties and infections of the eyes, throat and lungs.”