Over 1,000 children have died in Bangladesh’s worst measles outbreak in decades, with new cases continuing to rise despite an emergency vaccination campaign.
More than 19.8 million children have been vaccinated so far, but about 1,000 new suspected cases are still being reported each day. UNICEF told the BBC that Bangladesh will begin an “intensified phase” of its vaccination campaign on September 26. One that will be targeting children who have not yet received vaccines.
Government figures show more than 194,000 suspected measles cases have been recorded since the outbreak surged in March. The World Health Organization (WHO) said Bangladesh had made “substantial progress” towards eliminating measles before the current outbreak. WHO data now shows the country has recorded more measles cases than any other country this year.
The outbreak has been linked to several factors, including overcrowding and disruptions to routine childhood immunisation during the Covid-19 pandemic. UNICEF has also previously raised concerns over alleged delays in vaccine procurement under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. A former senior health official rejected claims that the country experienced a vaccine shortage.
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Contrasting Views on Initial Campaign
Public health expert Dr Mushtuq Husain said the initial emergency campaign failed to reach enough children and regions. He called for stronger community outreach and door-to-door awareness campaigns.
The WHO, however, described the vaccination campaign as successful while acknowledging that some targeted children were not reached. About 83% of confirmed measles cases have occurred among unvaccinated children, while infants under six months account for about 10% of cases and are particularly vulnerable.
Bangladesh is not alone in facing a resurgence of measles. Countries including the UK and US have also recorded increases in cases, with vaccination coverage among young children falling below the 95% level generally considered necessary to maintain herd immunity.
