Bangladesh Begins Emergency Measles Vaccinations as Outbreak Spreads Nationwide

Overview

• The emergency drive, launched Sunday, targets more than a million children in 18 high-risk districts with support from UNICEF, WHO and Gavi.
• Health ministry figures report 17 confirmed deaths, 113 suspected deaths and more than 7,500 suspected infections, largely in children six months to five years old.
• WHO says the outbreak now spans 56 of Bangladesh’s 64 districts.
• Authorities are prioritizing children who missed routine shots and starting in the worst-hit areas before expanding the rollout.
• Hospitals in several high-burden regions report overcrowding and limited capacity, while officials cite vaccine shortages and a delayed 2024 campaign that left immunity gaps.