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Major measles outbreak in Bangladesh kills at least 500 people, mostly children under five
A devastating measles outbreak has spread across Bangladesh leaving at least 500 people dead. More than 80% of reported cases are among children under five, including many infants too young to receive routine immunisation. Transmission has been recorded in nearly all districts with tens of thousands of suspected cases.
A devastating measles outbreak has spread across Bangladesh, killing at least 500 people and overwhelming hospitals across the country. A Dhaka hospital dedicated to treating measles cases is now filled with patients, the vast majority of them young children. Health authorities and UN agencies confirm that transmission has been recorded in nearly all districts of the country.
The scale of the crisis is alarming: tens of thousands of suspected cases have been reported within weeks of the surge beginning. More than 80% of reported cases are among children under the age of five, including many infants who are too young to have received routine immunisation against the highly contagious virus.
Parents have been arriving at hospitals in Dhaka from rural areas after local doctors initially failed to diagnose the illness. One mother described how her village doctors could not identify the disease, but the family recognised the symptoms including fever, cough, and excessive drooling that matched measles, prompting them to travel to the capital for treatment.
The outbreak exposes critical failures in Bangladesh's immunisation infrastructure. Routine childhood vaccination coverage has reportedly declined in recent years due to supply chain issues, misinformation, and disruptions caused by political instability. The rapid spread across nearly every district suggests systemic gaps in the national vaccination programme.
International health organisations are mobilising emergency responses, but the speed of transmission and the vulnerability of the affected population, predominantly children under five, makes containment extremely challenging. Measles is one of the world's most contagious diseases and can be fatal for malnourished children with weak immune systems.
FAQ
- How many people have died?
- According to ABC News Australia reporting on 25 May 2026, at least 500 people have been killed by a major measles outbreak that has spread across nearly all districts of Bangladesh, with tens of thousands of suspected cases reported within weeks of the surge, as reported by AVALW News.
- Who is most affected?
- According to ABC News Australia reporting on 25 May 2026, more than 80% of reported cases are among children under five, including many infants too young to receive routine immunisation. A dedicated hospital in Dhaka is now filled with patients, most of them children, as reported by AVALW News.