Bangladesh launches measles-rubella vaccination amid deadly outbreak

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, September 27, 2026

Bangladesh has launched a nationwide measles-rubella vaccination campaign targeting 3.4 million children aged six to 59 months to combat its deadliest measles outbreak, which has caused over 1,000 deaths and more than 21,000 confirmed infections. This intensified effort, including lowering the vaccination age and addressing gaps in coverage, is crucial to controlling the disease’s spread amid ongoing challenges in the country’s healthcare system.

Bangladesh has initiated a nationwide measles-rubella vaccination campaign in response to its worst recorded outbreak of the disease, which has resulted in more than 1,000 deaths and tens of thousands of infections. Launched on September 26, the month-long effort aims to immunize approximately 3.4 million children aged between six months and 59 months who were previously unvaccinated or missed during earlier campaigns.

The campaign lowers the minimum vaccination age to six months from the usual nine months, a measure taken to address the urgent need for protection among younger infants. This adjustment comes as the outbreak has revealed significant gaps in the country’s childhood immunization coverage, exacerbating pressure on an already strained healthcare system facing a concurrent rise in dengue cases.

According to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Bangladesh is currently experiencing the largest measles outbreak globally. Official figures from the country's health ministry indicate 1,087 confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths, including 101 verified by laboratory testing. Since March 15, there have been nearly 187,000 suspected cases and 21,099 confirmed infections reported, with more than 165,000 hospitalizations linked to measles.

Health experts attribute the severity of the outbreak primarily to disruptions in routine immunization programs during 2024 and 2025. Political unrest, alterations in vaccine procurement processes, and the postponement or cancellation of vaccination initiatives contributed to a significant number of children lacking adequate immunity. In particular, infants under nine months—who are typically not eligible for measles vaccination—have remained vulnerable, facilitating continued disease transmission across various age groups.

Since April, emergency and follow-up vaccination campaigns have reached nearly 20 million children nationwide. However, experts caution that substantial immunity gaps persist, highlighting the critical importance of the current campaign in reaching all eligible children. Successfully closing these gaps is seen as essential to curbing disease spread, reducing severe illness and mortality, and preventing future outbreaks of this highly contagious disease.

Authorities emphasize that the ongoing immunization drive is a vital step toward breaking the chains of transmission and bolstering public health resilience across Bangladesh.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.