Bangladesh Measles Outbreak: More Than 500 Children Have Died

Bangladesh is facing its worst measles outbreak in decades, with more than 500 children dying within just two months as the country’s public health system comes under growing strain.

Government figures released until Saturday show the death toll has climbed to 512 since March 15. Thirteen children died in the last 24 hours alone.

Hospitals in Dhaka and other major cities are struggling to handle the surge in patients. Separate wards have been opened for measles-infected children, but doctors say the shortage of ICU beds has made treatment increasingly difficult for critically ill patients.

Health officials say more than 62,000 suspected measles infections have been recorded across the country between March and May 23. At least 8,494 cases have already been confirmed through laboratory testing.

Children under five have been hit the hardest.

Measles spreads rapidly through coughing and sneezing and remains one of the world’s most contagious viral diseases. There is no specific treatment once infection occurs. Doctors say many children are dying after developing pneumonia, brain inflammation and severe respiratory complications.

Hospitals overwhelmed as severe cases continue to rise

Doctors working in Dhaka say many children are reaching hospitals only after their condition has already deteriorated.

Ainul Islam Khan, a pediatric specialist at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, said many infected children are arriving with serious lung, throat and eye infections.

The pressure inside pediatric wards has continued to rise over the past several weeks.

Health workers also point to malnutrition as a major factor behind the growing deaths. Children from poorer families have either missed routine vaccinations or developed weak immunity because of chronic nutritional problems.

In several low-income urban settlements and densely populated rural areas, infections have spread rapidly in recent months.

Vaccination disruption after political unrest

UNICEF says Bangladesh’s immunisation system was heavily disrupted during and after the 2024 student-led protests against the government and the political instability that followed.

Large numbers of children missed regular vaccinations during that period.

Rana Flowers, UNICEF’s representative in Bangladesh, said the government has now launched an emergency vaccination campaign that has already reached nearly 18 million children.

But health authorities warn that the impact of the campaign will not be immediate and controlling the outbreak could still take time.

The World Health Organization has also blamed the sharp decline in routine vaccination coverage for the current outbreak.

The government says infection rates have started falling in some districts, signaling that the outbreak may be moving toward control. But the daily number of children being admitted to hospitals suggests the crisis is far from over.

Health experts say measles remains highly preventable if children receive both doses of the vaccine on time.