Bangladesh is battling measles. It’s a ‘real warning’ to other nations
Summary
Bangladesh is battling the world’s worst measles outbreak, with more than 200,000 suspected cases and over 1,100 deaths reported since mid-March. Weak data, missed vaccinations and disrupted outreach have left millions of children vulnerable, prompting warnings to other countries as coverage rates fall below the level needed for herd immunity.
Key Points
- Bangladesh has reported 202,000 suspected measles cases and 1,147 deaths since the outbreak began in mid-March, according to the WHO.
- Vaccination coverage fell in 2025, with routine immunisation disrupted by political turmoil, strikes and delayed vaccine orders.
- Reuters found that emergency vaccination efforts missed millions of children because of weak data and incomplete readiness checks.
- Health officials and WHO advisers say the outbreak is a warning to other countries about the risks of falling immunisation rates.
