Zakir Hossain from Dhaka
A worsening measles outbreak in Bangladesh has triggered international concern, with rights and governance groups warning of serious failures in the country’s immunisation system as infections and deaths among children continue to rise.
In a statement issued on Friday (June 5), the Global Center for Democratic Governance (GCDG), Canada, described the outbreak as both a public health emergency and a sign of weakened vaccination systems and inadequate protection for vulnerable children.
The organisation said families across Bangladesh were mourning children lost to a disease that is preventable through timely vaccination and effective public health measures.
According to assessments cited from the World Health Organization (WHO), the outbreak has been driven by falling measles-rubella vaccination coverage, immunity gaps among children, vaccine shortages during 2024–25, delayed policy decisions and the failure to carry out a planned nationwide supplementary immunisation campaign in 2024.
The WHO has warned that transmission is likely to continue unless urgent high-quality vaccination drives and stronger disease surveillance are implemented.
The statement said a large number of children either missed vaccination entirely or received only one dose. Children under five account for 79% of confirmed cases, while those under two represent 66%. Infants younger than nine months make up 33% of infections, including many too young to receive routine vaccination and therefore dependent on community immunity.
The GCDG also highlighted disruptions in routine immunisation services, citing an extended seven-month strike by community health workers that reportedly affected outreach programmes and local surveillance systems.
It further pointed to nationwide measles-rubella vaccine stock-outs during 2024–25, which WHO said weakened vaccination coverage and increased the number of vulnerable children.
The statement also raised concerns over vaccine procurement and outbreak management during the interim administration, alleging that despite repeated warnings from UNICEF about growing immunity gaps and outbreak risks, measles vaccination was not given adequate priority.