Bangladesh faces world’s largest measles outbreak as cases top 166,000

Bangladesh, which had previously been close to eliminating measles, is now facing the world’s largest outbreak of the disease, with more than 166,000 suspected cases reported since March, including 19,835 laboratory-confirmed infections and 999 outbreak-related deaths.

The death toll includes 100 confirmed measles fatalities, while more than 146,000 suspected patients have been hospitalised, Caliber.Az reports via Reuters.

Hospitals are also struggling with overcrowding, shortages of resources and a constant influx of sick children.

Experts have linked the outbreak to disruptions in routine immunisation in 2024 and 2025 amid political instability in the country. Further challenges emerged due to disruptions in vaccine supplies. Children under nine months of age have been particularly vulnerable, as they are still too young for routine vaccination.

In April, authorities launched an emergency nationwide measles and rubella vaccination campaign. According to the Ministry of Health, more than 19.7 million children have been vaccinated as part of the campaign.

By Jeyhun Aghazada