Daijiworld Media Network - Dhaka

Dhaka, Apr 7: Bangladesh has launched an emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign targeting over one million children in the worst-affected regions, following a sharp outbreak that has claimed around 100 young lives and triggered thousands of infections nationwide.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain inaugurated the drive near the capital Dhaka, focusing on children aged six months to five years across 18 high-risk districts. Authorities have already identified 30 severely affected areas, with vaccination efforts underway.

Officials said a nationwide immunisation campaign is scheduled to begin on May 3, covering remaining districts as part of efforts to contain the outbreak.

According to government data, suspected measles cases among children in the vulnerable age group have surged to 6,476, with over 7,500 suspected infections reported across the country.
While 17 deaths have been officially confirmed, authorities estimate over 100 suspected fatalities, noting that many cases were either not tested or patients died before confirmation.

Halimur Rashid, a senior official at the Communicable Disease Control, said the scale of the outbreak is significantly higher than in recent years. He attributed the surge to multiple factors, including vaccine shortages.

Data from the World Health Organization shows that measles cases had declined substantially since a peak of 25,934 in 2005, until the recent resurgence.

Experts say disruptions in immunisation programmes have worsened the situation. A planned vaccination drive in June 2024 was delayed due to political unrest that led to the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Public health experts have also flagged lapses in vaccine procurement and implementation. Mahmudur Rahman, head of the National Verification Committee of Measles and Rubella, said the country failed to meet its target of eliminating measles by December 2025 due to gaps in vaccination coverage.

Tajul Islam A. Bari, a former immunisation official, said despite allocated funds, authorities failed to procure sufficient vaccines. “Now we see the result — the situation is scary,” he warned.

Measles, one of the most contagious diseases, spreads through coughing and sneezing and primarily affects children. The WHO estimates around 95,000 measles-related deaths globally in 2024, mostly among unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children under five.

Authorities are now racing to curb the outbreak through intensified vaccination efforts and improved healthcare response.