A measles outbreak in Bangladesh has killed more than 500 children, making it the deadliest outbreak in decades in the South Asian nation.
According to the Bangladesh Ministry of Health, as of April 5, 2026, the death toll reached 512 children, with 13 additional deaths in the last 24 hours. Health authorities began recording data on March 15.
Hospitals in the capital Dhaka are overwhelmed with measles cases. Many medical facilities have set up dedicated treatment wards but face a severe shortage of intensive care beds.
Measles is a viral infectious disease spread through coughs and sneezes, with no specific treatment available. It primarily affects children and can cause serious complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, and death, especially in malnourished or unvaccinated children.
It remains one of the world's leading causes of vaccine-preventable childhood deaths.
The country of 175 million has launched a mass vaccination campaign to combat the outbreak. Rana Flowers, UNICEF Representative in Bangladesh, said the campaign has vaccinated 18 million children. However, the Ministry of Health warned that the full impact of vaccinations will only be evident in a few months.
UNICEF noted that vaccination gaps widened after the political crisis in 2024, leaving many children unprotected.
Dr. Ainul Islam Khan, a pediatrician at Shaheed Suhrawardy Hospital in Dhaka, said: “Although measles is highly contagious, a healthy child without complications can survive with routine medication. But here, most children arrive with respiratory distress and infections in the eyes, throat, and lungs.”
UNICEF has called for stronger vaccination programs and greater investment in healthcare facilities, surveillance systems, and data infrastructure for the future.
