Bangladesh measles crisis – 459 children die in 2 months as outbreak overwhelms Dhaka hospitals

Hundreds of children lose their lives

A devastating measles outbreak has plunged Bangladesh into one of its deadliest paediatric health crises in decades, claiming the lives of 459 children in the last two months.

In total, 57,846 people have received treatment in hospitals for measles. The highest number of cases and fatalities has been reported in the capital, Dhaka, where there have been 200 deaths and 31,565 cases.

Parents Struggle To Save Children

Footage captured on Sunday from an overflowing paediatric ward in Dhaka captures desperate parents soothing their feverish children amid the collective sound of coughing and crying. Many parents cradle their little ones, holding plastic oxygen masks over their faces as they wait for vaccines in a crowded area.

“After giving antibiotics, the fever fluctuated. On the fifth day, a rash appeared, and I realised Babu had measles. I took him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where we were referred to DNCC Hospital. After treatment began, he received saline, and now his condition is improving,” parent Shima Akter said.

Low Vaccination Rates Fuel Crisis

As measles spreads across the country, hospitals are overwhelmed with patients, and doctors are tirelessly treating them day and night.

Dr Arif Haidar reported that the hospital has treated more than 5,000 patients with measles symptoms and 25 children have died in their facility, most from severe pneumonia related to measles, which caused respiratory problems.

“The spread of measles can be attributed to Bangladesh’s dense population,” he cautioned. “If an infected child enters a crowded area, they can transmit the virus to 18 to 20 others. Measles is the most contagious virus globally, and in a malnourished and densely populated nation, many children went unvaccinated, facilitating further spread.”

Children under five are most vulnerable, yet 37 percent of cases are ages 5–15 – revealing a serious immunity gap. Experts blame political instability, strikes, and funding shortages for derailing a 2024 mass vaccination drive. Routine coverage is just 59 percent, well below the 95 percent needed for herd immunity.

Government Investigates Vaccine Failures

In response, the government, UNICEF, and WHO are leading an emergency MR vaccine drive for nearly 18 million children under five. The military has set up temporary hospitals, while the Prime Minister’s office probes vaccine procurement failures.