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Bangladesh Measles Outbreak: 1,147 Deaths Reported Amid Managing Crisis
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News18•17-10-2026, 18:29
Bangladesh Measles Outbreak: 1,147 Deaths Reported Amid Managing Crisis
- •Bangladesh is facing a severe measles outbreak with over 202,000 suspected cases and 1,147 deaths reported between mid-March and October 9.
- •According to the WHO, 94 percent of the deceased are children under the age of five.
- •A decline in vaccination rates, remote villages remaining out of reach, and flawed government data have worsened the crisis.
- •Experts emphasize that at least 95 percent vaccination coverage is essential to prevent the rapid spread of measles.
Key Questions Answered
Between mid-March and October 9, Bangladesh reported over 202,000 suspected cases of measles, with 22,000 cases confirmed through testing and 1,147 deaths recorded by the World Health Organization. Ninety-four percent of the deceased were children under the age of five.
The severe outbreak was driven by a decline in vaccination coverage in 2025—where first-dose rates fell to 90 percent and second-dose rates dropped to 86 percent—along with remote villages lacking health worker access, flaws in government data, and rushed emergency campaign preparations.
According to the World Health Organization, vaccination of at least 95 percent of children is essential to prevent a measles outbreak and halt the rapid spread of the disease.
