Bangladesh is mobilizing emergency vaccination campaigns to combat a severe measles outbreak that has infected over 60,000 people and claimed hundreds of lives in just two months. The crisis stems largely from reduced vaccination coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving millions of children under fifteen without adequate protection against the highly contagious virus.
Health authorities report that children under five years old have been disproportionately affected, with cases concentrated in urban slums and rural areas where healthcare access is limited. The outbreak has stretched Bangladesh’s healthcare system to capacity, with hospitals reporting shortages of essential medicines and qualified personnel.
WHO-coordinated emergency campaigns are now targeting vulnerable populations across all eight divisions of the country. Health officials emphasize that rapid vaccination uptake is critical to preventing further transmission and protecting the nation’s most vulnerable children.
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