Bangladesh, long regarded as a global success story in mass immunisation, is now facing a severe public health crisis as a deadly measles outbreak has claimed over 250 lives since mid-March, with the overwhelming majority of victims being children. The scale of the outbreak marks the worst measles-related death toll the country has witnessed in nearly two decades, raising serious concerns about gaps in its once-robust vaccination system. Reports indicate that while 43 deaths have been officially confirmed as measles, an additional 216 suspected fatalities linked to measles-like symptoms have been recorded, pointing to a much broader and more alarming spread of the disease across the country.
The outbreak has affected a vast geographical area, with the World Health Organisation noting that infections have spread across 58 out of Bangladesh’s 64 districts, covering all eight administrative divisions. The disease has disproportionately impacted children, particularly those in vulnerable age groups, with nearly 79% of cases reported among children under the age of five and around 91% of total infections affecting those between one and fourteen years old. The rapid spread and high fatality rate have exposed serious lapses in immunisation coverage and public health preparedness, especially in rural and underserved regions.
In response to the escalating crisis, authorities have launched an emergency nationwide vaccination campaign after more than 7,500 cases were reported within a short span. However, the urgency of the response has also highlighted deeper systemic issues. Bangladesh traditionally conducts special measles immunisation drives every four years, but the last such campaign was carried out in 2020. Subsequent disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and prolonged political instability appear to have derailed routine vaccination efforts, allowing immunity gaps to widen gradually over time. These gaps have now manifested in the form of a widespread outbreak.
Government data suggests a worrying decline in vaccination coverage in recent years. Immunisation rates, which had consistently remained between 89% and over 100% under the national Expanded Programme on Immunisation between 2017 and 2023, fell to 86.6% in 2024 and dropped sharply to 59.6% in 2025 for children aged 12 months. This steep decline has been identified as a key factor behind the resurgence of measles, a disease that is otherwise preventable through timely vaccination. Health experts have repeatedly warned that even minor reductions in immunisation coverage can lead to the accumulation of susceptible populations, eventually triggering outbreaks of this magnitude.
The crisis has also triggered a significant political and legal backlash. A petition has been filed in Bangladesh’s Supreme Court seeking to impose a travel ban on Muhammad Yunus and members of his interim administration. The petition alleges that decisions taken during his tenure, particularly attempts to shift elements of the vaccination programme from the public sector to private entities, contributed to disruptions in vaccine supply and delivery. The legal notice has called for an investigation into what it describes as an “unlawful and malicious” initiative that may have weakened the country’s immunisation framework at a critical time.
The current government, led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, has also placed responsibility on both the previous Awami League administration and the interim government, accusing them of policy failures and mismanagement that resulted in vaccine shortages. Officials have pointed to inconsistent planning, disrupted procurement processes, and administrative lapses as contributing factors that undermined the continuity of vaccination efforts. Statements from the Health Ministry have further added to the confusion, with claims that measles vaccines had not been administered in recent years raising questions about programme implementation and oversight.
The High Court has taken note of the seriousness of the situation and has asked the government to explain why its failure to prevent the outbreak should not be declared illegal. It has also directed authorities to ensure an adequate and uninterrupted supply of vaccines, syringes, and essential logistics, while seeking a detailed action report within a stipulated timeframe. These judicial interventions underline the gravity of the crisis and the urgent need for accountability and corrective measures.
The unfolding situation represents a stark reversal for Bangladesh, which had previously been recognised for achieving high immunisation coverage and significant reductions in vaccine-preventable diseases. The current outbreak demonstrates how quickly those gains can be eroded when vaccination systems are disrupted, whether due to health emergencies, political instability, or policy missteps. As the country works to contain the outbreak through emergency measures, the larger challenge will be rebuilding trust in the public health system, restoring consistent immunisation coverage, and ensuring that such a crisis does not recur in the future.
