Hantavirus and Ebola are in the news, but there’s another severe outbreak happening that’s not getting much attention.
“We’ve been raising our voices about this issue, yet it remains largely ignored,” says Hasina Rahman. “The situation has been quite silent.”
She refers to a serious measles outbreak currently affecting Bangladesh.
Since mid-March, the country has reported over 60,000 suspected cases and 528 suspected deaths related to measles. Sadly, most of those affected are children under five.
“It’s overwhelming, putting immense pressure on our healthcare systems,” mentions Rahman, who is the deputy regional director for Asia at the International Rescue Committee.
Miftahul Zannat’s family feels this strain personally. The two-year-old exhibited typical measles symptoms—fever, rash—and battled vomiting and diarrhea.
After two local hospital visits yielded no improvement, Zannat’s condition worsened. “She was completely bedridden and couldn’t even open her eyes,” recalls her father, Mohammad Kamal.
Like many parents, they took the long trip to Dhaka, hoping for better care. However, after arriving, they found two hospitals already overwhelmed and unable to admit her.
Although most people recover from measles within weeks, complications can arise, including pneumonia and brain inflammation. Globally, around 100,000 people died from the disease in 2024 alone.
Malnourished children are particularly at risk, and in Bangladesh, 1 in 4 children under five suffers from stunting due to undernutrition. This malnourishment can reduce the effectiveness of the measles vaccine and has contributed to the severity of this outbreak, leading to higher case and death rates compared to wealthier nations.
Kamal, who works as a cook, is relieved they found care after trying multiple hospitals but remains concerned. “My daughter used to be full of life, always playing and smiling. Now, she’s silent, and it breaks my heart to see her this way,” he expresses.
Here’s a look at the background of this outbreak and the response from the country.
From Vaccine Success to Significant Outbreak
Before this outbreak, Bangladesh had made significant progress toward eliminating measles, largely due to its community-based vaccination efforts.
In 2019, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was honored with the Vaccine Hero Award for these achievements.
But then came 2024.
The sudden change in government initiated plans to overhaul the vaccination system, which, unfortunately, did not go smoothly.
Bureaucratic hurdles disrupted the vaccine supply, delaying immunization campaigns.
Rana Flowers, UNICEF’s representative to Bangladesh, expressed concerns, noting she had repeatedly warned government officials that delays could worsen the situation. “I told them, ‘We’re worried. You need to act to avoid a crisis,'” she stated.
Organizations like the World Health Organization also urged the government to act last year.
“There was no action taken,” says Dr. Reaz Mobarok from the Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute, underlining the lack of vaccination efforts during the interim government.
The warnings proved prophetic.
Daily Death Toll
In April, Bangladesh reported a spike in measles cases to the WHO, with close to 20,000 suspected cases and over 150 fatalities.
The outbreak has continued to escalate since then.
Local media now report daily death tolls, which sometimes reach double digits. On May 4, for instance, 17 children died, and new suspected cases often exceed 1,000 daily. As of May 24, the death toll stood at 528.
This outbreak marks one of the largest measles crises in decades for Bangladesh.
Dr. William Moss from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, who’s been analyzing the situation, describes it as a “huge outbreak with significant mortality.” He notes that measles also compromises the immune system, increasing risks of secondary infections.
Rahman from the IRC emphasizes the compounded issues from cuts to global health aid, which led to community health programs being halted and staffing shortages worsening the crisis. “Parents are left helpless outside hospital wards, not knowing what to do,” she remarks, calling it heart-wrenching.
9-Month-Old’s Condition
Mim Akhter, worried about her 9-month-old son Rizvi’s worsening symptoms, made the frantic decision to travel three hours to Dhaka for care. The growing death toll was a haunting reminder.
Upon arriving, they encountered such overcrowding that they had to settle for a spot on the floor near the elevator.
“We had to lie down here on the floor to get treatment,” she explained in Bengali. From there, her son received supplemental oxygen and fluids since no specific treatment for measles exists. Thankfully, after five days, his condition improved, and they were discharged.
Patients recount not only the overcrowding but also the insufficient care being provided.
There’s a shortage of essential medical supplies, and in some cases, two measles patients share an ICU bed. Some hospitals fail to isolate measles patients adequately, leading to risky situations for others in the facility.
“My hospital has only 100 beds, and we often receive more than 100 patients daily,” states Dr. F. A. Asma Khan from the Infectious Diseases Hospital.
Meanwhile, Mobarok’s hospital is even converting administrative spaces into patient rooms to accommodate the surge.
Despairing Parents
Parents are struggling emotionally and financially. While many hospitals in Bangladesh offer free care, other expenses can quickly accumulate.
This is the situation that Mohammad Kamal Hossain finds himself in. As a rickshaw driver, he typically earns about $4 a day. With their 9-month-old daughter sick for over 20 days, he’s unable to work.
After his daughter developed pneumonia, another complication of measles, he was advised to seek advanced care in Dhaka. Now, he’s already spent $160 on transport and daily expenses at the hospital.
“My older child is in high school, and now I’m unsure how to pay her tuition this month. I’ve already taken on debts because of this situation,” Hossain shares.
Government Response
The newly elected government of Bangladesh, which took office in February, launched an extensive measles vaccination campaign in early April.
Officials claim they have reached their target of vaccinating around 18 million children. Their next step is to locate any children who missed the campaign to ensure complete coverage, says Dr. Halimur Rashid from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
This initiative has received praise, including from UNICEF’s Flowers, who recognized the prompt response from the Ministry of Health.
Rashid’s team is also ensuring hospitals act appropriately, mandating the opening of isolation units for measles patients and administering Vitamin A capsules to affected children.
Moss highlighted the importance of this strategy, noting that vitamin A can significantly reduce the risk of death from measles, particularly in areas where vitamin A deficiency is common.
Despite the government’s efforts, some parents and healthcare experts express frustration. There are calls for schools to close until the outbreak is under control and to declare a state of health emergency.
However, Moss remains optimistic, suggesting it might take some time to see the vaccination campaign’s effects, but he hopes to see a drop in cases soon.
For many in Bangladesh, this outbreak evokes memories of the severe COVID pandemic, during which nearly 30,000 lives were lost. Yet, Mobarok notes, there’s a big difference this time. “We’re not receiving much external support,” he explains. “This time, it feels like we’re alone.”
