The current measles outbreak in Bangladesh has already claimed the lives of more than 500 children, as authorities rush to vaccinate children to prevent the spread of the virus.
On Saturday, 23 May 2026, the Bangladeshi government reported that the measles outbreak has resulted in over 500 child deaths, marking the most severe and deadliest measles epidemic in the country in several decades.
Hospitals across Dhaka, the capital city, are under severe strain due to an overwhelming number of patients, leading to the establishment of special wards for infected individuals, though challenges persist due to a shortage of intensive care unit (ICU) beds.
The death toll continues to rise, with 13 additional child deaths reported within the past 24 hours, bringing the total fatalities in this outbreak to 512, according to Ministry of Health data tracked since 15 March.
Bangladesh has launched a major vaccination drive to combat the outbreak. Rana Flowers, head of UNICEF Bangladesh, revealed this week that the campaign has already reached 18 million children.
However, the Ministry of Health stated that it may take several more months before the full benefits of the vaccination campaign become apparent.
UNICEF announced on Wednesday (20 May) that immunity gaps worsened during and after the 2024 civil unrest, which toppled the country's authoritarian government, resulting in many children missing out on vaccination protection.
Measles is highly contagious, spreading through coughing and sneezing, and currently has no specific treatment once infected. Complications can include brain swelling and severe respiratory issues. Although measles can affect anyone, it most commonly affects young children, especially those suffering from malnutrition.
These death figures from the Ministry of Health come after the government previously claimed to have controlled the outbreak, citing decreases in cases across heavily affected areas.
Most recorded patients during the current outbreak in Bangladesh are young children aged between 6 months and 5 years.
Aizul Islam Khan, a pediatrician at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital in Dhaka, told AFP, “Although measles is highly contagious, healthy children without complications can recover well with minimal medication.”
“But here, most children arrive at the hospital with breathing difficulties, as well as infections of the eyes, throat, and lungs,” Dr. Islam Khan said, noting these are critical conditions.
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Source:cna