Dhaka: Bangladesh faces its deadliest measles outbreak in decades as hospitals overflow with sick children and the death toll climbs steadily. Health authorities report more than 336 child deaths since mid-March, with over 50,000 confirmed and suspected cases straining the country’s medical system to its limits.
Vaccine Gaps Fuel the Crisis
The outbreak hits hardest among children aged six months to five years. On May 4, the country recorded a tragic high of 17 child deaths in a single day. Many victims missed vital vaccinations because a planned measles drive in 2024 was delayed by the political uprising that overthrew the previous government.
Transitioning to recovery stories, families like that of three-year-old Afia share both fear and hope. Her grandmother Rina Begum described the terror of nearly losing her granddaughter before oxygen treatment helped Afia improve. Similarly, 14-month-old Siam spent ten days in intensive care before doctors moved him back to the measles ward. His mother Brishti Akhtar said she never expected to bring her son home alive.
Emergency Vaccination Drive Underway
Health officials, supported by UNICEF, WHO, and security forces, launched an urgent measles-rubella vaccination campaign on April 5. Nearly 17 million children have received the vaccine so far. Senior health ministry official Abu Hussain Md Moinul Ahsan noted that last year’s coverage stood at only 59 percent, far below the 95 percent needed for herd immunity. He expects visible improvement within a month.
Meanwhile, the army has set up a 20-bed field hospital at Dhaka Medical College Hospital as a precaution. Officials insist hospitals are coping for now, but heavy recent rains raise fears of a simultaneous dengue outbreak.
This crisis highlights the dangers of disrupted vaccination programs during political turmoil. Authorities race against time to protect vulnerable children and prevent further tragedy in the coming weeks.
