A measles surge in Bangladesh has claimed 1,147 lives and infected more than 202,000 individuals since March 2026, according to a new investigation by Reuters. The report, released on Saturday, connects the severity of the crisis to falling immunization rates, poor data systems, and logistical hurdles in reaching children. The analysis draws on World Health Organization records and conversations with numerous health experts and government personnel.
Reuters reported that national immunization efforts struggled in 2025, seeing initial dose uptake drop to 90 percent and subsequent doses to 86 percent. These levels fell short of the 95 percent benchmark required by the World Health Organization to stop outbreaks. The publication noted that the country had previously excelled in this area, with 2024 rates estimated at 96 percent for the first shot and 93 percent for the second. However, political instability following 2024 protests disrupted health services, causing worker strikes, delayed supply orders, and interrupted follow-up shots.
As cases rose, authorities launched an emergency drive in April and May reaching nearly 20 million children. Officials claimed this covered all children aged six months to five years. Yet Reuters found evidence that millions were overlooked. A separate routine intervention in June targeted four million additional children for the same age range, suggesting incomplete initial coverage. By August, internal minutes showed that the share of unvaccinated patients with confirmed measles had barely changed after the first emergency push.
In late September, the government initiated a second campaign for 3.4 million previously missed children. Mark Jit, a WHO vaccine adviser, called the situation a warning for other nations, stating that prevention is cheaper and safer than reacting to intense transmission. Meanwhile, Nigeria faces similar challenges, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention recording 9,308 suspected cases and 109 deaths in the first seven months of 2026. The agency highlighted surveillance and data reporting as ongoing hurdles in its response strategy.