The World Health Organization has classified Bangladesh as facing a high risk of a measles outbreak, warning that urgent action is needed to address critical immunity gaps. In its latest assessment, the agency said a sharp rise in infections signals a growing public health concern, with the outbreak already spreading to 58 of the country’s 64 districts. Children, especially those under five years, account for the majority of cases. Authorities have reported a suspected death toll of around 240 this year, along with thousands of hospitalisations and hundreds of confirmed cases in recent days. Experts say the surge is largely due to low vaccination coverage, with many affected children either unvaccinated or only partially immunised.
The WHO has pointed to key gaps, including a shortage of measles-rubella vaccines between 2024 and 2025, disruptions in routine immunisation, and the absence of large-scale vaccination drives. These factors have reversed earlier gains towards measles elimination. While a targeted vaccination campaign began earlier this month, the agency warned that under-immunised populations remain at high risk of severe illness and continued transmission.
The WHO has also flagged cross-border risks due to frequent movement along borders with India and Myanmar. It has urged Bangladesh to achieve at least 95 per cent vaccination coverage, strengthen surveillance, and deploy rapid response teams. Experts have also called for faster and better-coordinated efforts to prevent the outbreak from worsening further.
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