WorldPosted at: Sep 17 2026 9:44PM


Measles outbreak: Bangladesh death toll increases to 1046, suspected nationwide cases surge to 176,480

Dhaka, Sep 17 (UNI) With Bangladesh in the grip of a measles outbreak, two more children died from measles-like symptoms within 24 hours on Wednesday, taking the country's combined tally of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 1,046, reports Business Standard BD.
According to the latest daily update from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), suspected measles deaths have risen to 946, while laboratory-confirmed deaths stand at 100.
The country recorded 1,282 new suspected measles cases in the 24 hours, taking the cumulative number of suspected cases nationwide to 176,480. Another 61 laboratory-confirmed cases were reported, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 20,343.
Since March 15, 155,602 people with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country, of whom 149,540 have recovered, according to the DGHS.
More than half of the measles-infected children in southern Bangladesh had links to hospitals or other healthcare facilities, while severe malnutrition was associated with almost a 24-fold higher risk of developing severe measles.
More than 19.8 million children have already been vaccinated, but around 1,000 new suspected cases continue to be reported each day.
According to UNICEF, Dhaka will conduct an intensified vaccination drive on September 26, targeting children. Bangladesh had made "substantial progress" towards eliminating measles before March this year, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). However, WHO data now shows that the country has recorded more measles cases than any other country so far this year.The latest government figures put the number of cases reported since March at more than 194,000.
The outbreak began surging in March, with UNICEF describing it as a "perfect storm" caused by several factors, including Bangladesh's densely populated communities and disruptions to routine immunisation during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The UN agency had previously said the interim government led by former Chief Adviser Md Yunus delayed ordering vaccines last year, contributing to shortages.
According to UNICEF, the government that took over after former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's removal in 2024 delayed vaccine orders while considering new suppliers, despite warnings about the potential risks.
"We were worried about possible [vaccine] gaps increasing, and it's unfolding into what we're now seeing," UNICEF spokesperson Miguel Mateos Muñoz has said earlier.
A former senior health ministry official under Yunus denied that the country faced a vaccine shortage.
The continued deaths indicate that the initial emergency vaccination campaign did not go far enough, public health expert Dr Mushtuq Husain told the agency.
He said too many children remained unprotected and that the campaign should have reached more regions and age groups.
"There are no shortcuts when it comes to a response," Husain said. "The government made the right decision to jump into action. But the health workers needed to go door-to-door to make people aware of the urgency."
Most cases are being recorded among unvaccinated children. According to the WHO, about 83% of confirmed measles cases have occurred among unvaccinated people, while 10% have been reported in infants under six months old, who are "highly vulnerable during outbreaks".
Malnutrition can further increase the risk of severe complications and death from measles, making undernourished children particularly vulnerable during an outbreak.
Hospitals across Bangladesh have also been left struggling to cope with the scale of the outbreak.
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Tags: #Measles outbreak: Bangladesh death toll increases to 1046# suspected nationwide cases surge to 176#480
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