Measles Outbreak Catches Children by Surprise

Photo collected

A rapidly spreading measles outbreak has escalated into one of Bangladesh’s most serious child health crises in recent years, affecting tens of thousands of them and leaving hospitals overwhelmed across the country. While authorities have launched an emergency vaccination campaign and insist emergency vaccination has been started to improve the situation, public health experts continue to warn of deep systemic weaknesses behind the surge.

Since mid-March 2026, more than 20,000 suspected cases have been reported, with over 200 children confirmed or suspected to have died from measles and related complications. Most of the victims are children under five, a group considered highly vulnerable due to incomplete or missing vaccination coverage and malnutrition.

The outbreak has spread across nearly 58 of the country’s 64 districts, with clusters reported in both rural communities and densely populated urban areas. Hospitals in Dhaka, divisional cities, and district towns are struggling to manage the growing number of patients, many arriving in severe condition with complications such as pneumonia, dehydration, and respiratory failure.

Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain has maintained that the outbreak has not yet reached epidemic proportions, arguing that emergency response measures are already showing progress.

Following the launch of a nationwide measles-rubella vaccination campaign, he said that around 85 percent of people in affected areas have already been brought under vaccination coverage. According to him, city corporations and local health authorities are actively supporting the drive, and targeted interventions are underway in emerging hotspots.

He also said that intensive care units were set up within hours of identifying critical clusters and that ventilators have been provided to treat severe cases, particularly children suffering from pneumonia-related complications.

“When measles leads to pneumonia and the lungs become congested, ventilators are essential,” the minister said, adding that earlier shortages of critical equipment had been addressed through emergency procurement.

Talking to this correspondent, Sakhawat acknowledged weaknesses in the health supply chain, which he said were inherited from previous administrations, and added that these gaps delayed early response efforts.

He also pointed to what he described as “an unvaccinated generation” created due to past failures in immunisation coverage.

The Minister said support from UNICEF, Gavi, and the World Health Organization has helped secure vaccines and syringes, with unused pandemic funds redirected to strengthen preparedness.

Despite the scale of the outbreak, the minister expressed optimism that the situation would improve within days as vaccination coverage expands nationwide. He also said there is no current justification for declaring a national health emergency.

Public health experts, however, have painted a more alarming picture. At a recent briefing, the Doctors’ Platform for People’s Health called for the declaration of a public health emergency and urged an independent investigation into the causes of the outbreak.

Former adviser to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), Mohammad Mushtuq Husain, described the situation as a “serious public health crisis” exposing deep flaws in Bangladesh’s immunisation system.

Citing official health data, he said that over 200 children had died between mid-March and mid-April, with more than 20,000 infections recorded. “These deaths were largely preventable with timely vaccination and early intervention,” he said.

He also highlighted that the outbreak has been driven by clusters of unvaccinated and under-vaccinated children, particularly in low-income communities and urban slums.

According to him, health services are under severe pressure due to overstretched laboratories and shortages of essential supplements such as Vitamin A, which plays a critical role in reducing measles complications.

Doctors on the ground say hospitals are struggling to cope with the surge. Specialized measles wards in children’s hospitals in Dhaka and other cities are overcrowded, with many facilities operating beyond capacity.

In several cases, families report being turned away due to lack of beds. ICU units are reserved only for the most critical cases requiring ventilator support.

Medical staff say the situation worsened after a sharp increase in cases was recorded within a short span of time, forcing hospitals to convert general wards into isolation units.

Some hospitals have reported multiple child deaths within days, particularly among patients who arrived late with complications.

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku also on Monday blamed previous administrations for negligence in vaccine procurement and immunisation planning.

He claimed that delayed vaccine procurement had contributed to the current crisis and said the present government, under emergency direction, has now ensured nationwide vaccine distribution. He credited ongoing efforts for scaling up immunisation coverage rapidly.

His comments have added to a growing political debate over responsibility for the outbreak, although health experts insist that the immediate priority should be containment rather than attribution of blame.

Epidemiologist Professor Dr. Mahmudur Rahman has provided detailed guidance on controlling transmission, stressing that measles spreads most easily from four days before the appearance of symptoms to four days after rash onset.

He advised parents to isolate children with fever for at least four days and continue isolation if rashes appear, to prevent further spread. He also warned that children experiencing breathing difficulties must be taken to hospitals immediately, as complications can escalate rapidly.

He noted that the outbreak is closely linked to interruptions in routine vaccination programmes over recent years.

However, he expressed cautious optimism, saying that with the current nationwide vaccination campaign, infection rates may begin to decline within two to three weeks.

The emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign was launched in phases, initially covering selected upazilas before expanding to major city corporations and then nationwide.

Authorities say millions of doses are being distributed with support from international agencies. The campaign targets children aged six months to five years, the most vulnerable group.

Health officials claim that in some areas, coverage has already reached around 80 to 85 percent, though experts stress that full coverage is required to break transmission chains.

International partners including UNICEF and WHO are assisting with logistics, vaccine supply, and awareness campaigns, while local health workers are conducting door-to-door immunisation drives in high-risk zones.

Inside major pediatric hospitals, doctors describe an intense and emotionally difficult situation. Families are arriving after long delays, often after being misdiagnosed at local clinics.

One mother from Bhola described how her 11-month-old son was first treated for suspected allergy before being referred to multiple hospitals in worsening condition, eventually securing a bed in Dhaka after days of struggle.

Such cases are becoming increasingly common, with doctors warning that delayed treatment significantly increases the risk of complications and death.

Experts warn that the outbreak reflects deeper structural problems in Bangladesh’s public health system, particularly gaps in routine immunisation, malnutrition among children, and uneven access to healthcare services.

They also stress that controlling measles requires not just emergency vaccination but long-term strengthening of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), improved disease surveillance, and better nutritional support for children.

While the government remains hopeful that the outbreak will be brought under control within weeks, health experts caution that the situation remains fragile.

The coming weeks are expected to be critical as vaccination coverage expands and health systems continue to manage a high caseload. For now, Bangladesh’s hospitals, health workers, and families remain at the centre of a rapidly evolving public health emergency that continues to test the country’s healthcare capacity.                   (This story has been published in the April print edition of the GreenWatch)