Highest Child Mortality in Three Decades

With no money to buy medicines, no access to ICU beds, and silent parents clutching their lifeless children in hospital corridors, such scenes have become a daily reality in hospitals across the country. The disease that had nearly disappeared after the 1990s has now returned like a deadly force decades later. According to statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international agencies, Bangladesh now ranks at the top globally in measles-related child deaths, surpassing all other countries. In just two months, 512 innocent lives have been lost, all under the age of five. A country once regarded as a model for immunisation now echoes with the heartbreaking cries of parents who have lost their children.

Latest data from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and observations by international agencies indicate that Bangladesh now holds the top position globally in measles-related child deaths, followed by Sudan. Public health experts describe the situation as the largest outbreak in three decades, raising serious concern.

According to DGHS data, from March 15 to May 23 this year, around 71,000 people developed measles-like symptoms in the country. Of them, about 8,500 children were confirmed as measles cases. During the same period, deaths from measles and its symptoms stood at 512. A large proportion of the infected are children under five, many of whom were unvaccinated or did not complete the required doses.

Analysis of data from various international health agencies and media reports shows that Pakistan ranks third in measles-related deaths in 2026, with at least 71 child deaths. It is followed by Mexico (32), Yemen (25), Angola (15), and Guatemala (10). However, experts say the mortality rate in Bangladesh and Sudan is significantly higher and remains a major cause for concern compared to these countries.

According to a recent World Health Organization report, new measles outbreaks have been detected in multiple countries, including India, Pakistan, Yemen, Mexico, Angola, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Sudan, and Cameroon. Even developed countries such as the United States and Canada have reported a resurgence of infections. However, due to the high mortality rate and number of child deaths, the most severe situation has emerged in Bangladesh and Sudan.

The WHO’s recently published “Measles and Rubella Global Situation Update” shows that 3,276 measles cases were identified in Bangladesh over a six-month period from October last year to March 2026. While Bangladesh ranks lower among the top countries in terms of case numbers during this period, the situation is markedly different when it comes to deaths.

According to monitoring by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, measles has re-emerged globally. However, the situation in Bangladesh has been identified as particularly alarming due to comparatively higher mortality rates. Experts say this reflects not only an outbreak but also a multidimensional public health failure.

In Bangladesh, measles was one of the leading causes of child mortality in the 1990s. At that time, the disease spread widely across both rural and urban areas. Following symptoms such as fever, cough, red eyes, and skin rashes, many children died from complications including pneumonia, diarrhoea, and malnutrition. Limited vaccination coverage during that period made the situation severe.

Data from WHO and UNICEF show that between 1990 and 1999, approximately 30,000 to 50,000 children in Bangladesh died from measles. During that decade, the country recorded an average of 4,000 to 5,000 child deaths annually. The situation improved significantly after the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) was strengthened. After 2000, vaccination coverage rose to nearly 89 percent due to the expansion of immunisation centres at the union level, increased engagement of health workers, and improved public awareness. In 2012, a second dose of the MR vaccine was introduced, and in 2014 a large-scale campaign vaccinated 53 million children, which public health experts describe as a “turning point.”

However, during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2022), routine immunisation services were disrupted, leaving many children without vaccinations on schedule. According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), MR-1 coverage fell from 88.6 percent to 86 percent, while MR-2 coverage declined from 89 percent to nearly 81 percent. This created a significant immunity gap in the country. The impact of this shortfall is now evident, with infections spreading rapidly in densely populated urban areas, slums, and hard-to-reach regions. Malnourished and unvaccinated children remain the most vulnerable.

Public health experts say multiple factors are driving the current situation, including gaps in vaccination, malnutrition, delayed treatment, and a lack of awareness. In many cases, economic hardship is also delaying access to healthcare, increasing the risk of death.

According to data from the National Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign 2026, vaccination targets were met or exceeded in almost all divisions. Coverage reached 101 percent in Barishal, Khulna, Mymensingh, and Rajshahi divisions. In Chattogram, Dhaka, and Rangpur divisions, vaccination rates rose to 103 percent. Health authorities, citing DHIS2 and EPI & Surveillance data, said all divisions achieved or surpassed their targets. However, experts noted that some numerical inconsistencies require verification despite the apparent success of the nationwide immunisation program.

Public health expert Mushtaq Ahmed has said that measles control requires rapid expansion of treatment and vaccination services at the community level. He recommended establishing tent hospitals or temporary facilities if necessary. He also called for the declaration of a public health emergency to increase public awareness and ensure stronger measures to contain the spread of the disease.

Doctors’ and nurses’ Eid leave cancelled: Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain has said that Eid leave for doctors, nurses, and emergency healthcare workers involved in treating measles patients has been cancelled. He made the statement while speaking to journalists at the Secretariat yesterday. The minister said the necessary directive (circular) has already been issued. He added that measles is a highly contagious disease, making it essential to keep treatment services operational at all times. For this reason, relevant health workers have been made mandatory to remain on duty to ensure uninterrupted patient care and effective control of the situation.