Bangladesh measles outbreak kills over 500 children as vaccine shortages persist

Bangladesh is facing a severe measles outbreak that began in mid‑March 2024, with more than 60,000 suspected cases and over 500 deaths, most of them children under five. Hospital facilities in Dhaka and other regions are overwhelmed, and many children are turned away due to lack of beds.

The crisis has been linked to disruptions in the national vaccine supply after an interim government took power in 2024, delaying immunisation campaigns. UNICEF warned the authorities repeatedly from 2024 onward about the shortage, sending multiple letters and holding ten meetings, but the orders for vaccines were not fulfilled. Malnutrition, affecting one‑quarter of Bangladeshi children under five, has worsened the outbreak’s fatality rate.

International health officials stress that the outbreak reflects the fragile health‑care system and the urgent need to restore vaccine distribution to prevent further child deaths.