The 100-bed Shahid Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital in the Sylhet region has been overwhelmed by measles cases.
Bangladesh is struggling to contain what has emerged as the worst measles outbreak this year, with more than 1,100 deaths reported amid falling vaccination coverage, gaps in healthcare outreach and weaknesses in official data, according to a Reuters report. The country reported 202,000 suspected measles cases, including 22,000 laboratory-confirmed infections, between the outbreak’s start in mid-March and October 9, the World Health Organization (WHO) said. At least 1,147 people have died, with children under five accounting for 94% of reported deaths. However, vaccination coverage declined amid political turmoil following the protests that ended former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule in 2024.
Bangladesh launched an emergency vaccination campaign in April and May, with nearly 20 million children receiving a dose.
The government initially said the campaign had covered all children aged six months to five years. However, a subsequent routine health intervention in June had a target list containing four million more children in the same age group, exposing a significant gap in the emergency campaign’s reach, according to Reuters.