Bangladesh Faces Measles Crisis as Death Toll Reaches 1,314
A measles outbreak in Bangladesh has led to eight more child fatalities, raising the death toll to 1,314 in 2026.
Dhaka, November 15 (Daily Kiran) : The measles outbreak in Bangladesh is escalating alarmingly. As of Sunday morning, eight more children have succumbed to symptoms resembling measles within the past 24 hours. This tragic development brings the total number of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths in 2026 to 1,314.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), all eight recent deaths are currently classified as suspected cases of measles. Reports from United News of Bangladesh (UNB) indicate that the number of suspected measles deaths has risen to 1,209, while confirmed deaths remain at 105. In the last day alone, the country has reported 1,414 new suspected cases of measles, increasing the total suspected cases to 248,060. Additionally, laboratory tests have confirmed 158 new cases, bringing the total confirmed cases to 25,269.
Since March 15, a staggering 21,539 patients exhibiting suspected measles symptoms have been hospitalized, with 212,402 individuals having recovered and returned home.
Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has attributed the current measles epidemic to government negligence and the deterioration of the vaccination system over several decades. In an interview with The Sunday Guardian, she accused the previous interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, of making political and administrative decisions that disrupted vaccine procurement, resulting in significant gaps in vaccination coverage.
Hasina claimed that the stock of the measles-rubella vaccine ran out in March 2026, leading to a sharp decline in vaccination rates. She also criticized the current BNP government, led by Prime Minister Tariq Rahman, for failing to take adequate measures when the outbreak became severe.
“More than a thousand children have died from a preventable disease, which is not merely a result of administrative failure,” Hasina stated.
To address the crisis, she called for a steady supply of vaccines, targeted vaccination campaigns for vulnerable communities, real-time disease monitoring, the expansion of child healthcare centers, and an independent investigation into alleged irregularities in vaccine procurement and vaccination efforts.
