Measles Outbreak in Bangladesh: 202 Thousand Suspected Cases and Over a Thousand Deaths
Bangladesh has been battling the world's largest measles outbreak since mid-March 2026, with over a thousand people losing their lives due to declining vaccination rates.
Bangladesh is facing the world's largest measles outbreak, triggered by weak data flow, inadequate field operations, and a decline in vaccination rates. Experts note that this picture serves as a serious warning for other nations as well.
According to World Health Organization data, 202,000 suspected measles cases were reported in the country from mid-March 2026 to October 9, 2026, with 22,000 of them confirmed by laboratory tests. This figure was recorded as the highest number of suspected cases registered worldwide this year.
Due to the highly contagious disease, 1,147 people have lost their lives to date. Children under the age of five account for 94 percent of the deceased. Experts state that a 95 percent vaccination coverage is necessary for the outbreak to be brought under control, but routine vaccination programs in Bangladesh were disrupted following political turmoil and protests in 2025.
According to a report published in July 2026 in partnership with the WHO and UNICEF, the first-dose vaccination rate dropped to 90 percent in 2025, while the second-dose rate stood at 86 percent.