Dhaka, May 5, 2026 — Bangladesh is facing a worsening measles outbreak, with the death toll surpassing 300 in just over six weeks, raising alarm among public health authorities and international observers.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), a total of 311 people have died from measles and measles-like symptoms between March 15 and May 4. Of these, 52 deaths were laboratory-confirmed cases, while 259 occurred among patients exhibiting symptoms consistent with the disease.
The pace of fatalities has accelerated significantly. The first 100 deaths were recorded over 23 days, followed by the next 100 in just 14 days. The most recent 100 deaths occurred within only 19 days, indicating a rapid escalation of the outbreak.
In its latest daily bulletin released on Monday, the DGHS reported 17 deaths in the previous 24 hours—the highest single-day toll since the outbreak began. Health officials say the surge is largely driven by insufficient immunization coverage, particularly among children.
Since March 15, a total of 41,793 suspected measles cases have been reported nationwide, with 5,467 cases confirmed through laboratory testing. During the same period, 28,842 patients were hospitalized with measles-related symptoms, while 25,151 have recovered and been discharged.
Public health experts warn that the high number of deaths among suspected cases highlights gaps in early diagnosis, access to care, and timely intervention. The outbreak has placed significant strain on healthcare facilities, particularly pediatric units, as hospitals struggle to accommodate the rising number of cases.
Authorities are urging parents to ensure timely vaccination of children and are considering expanding immunization campaigns to curb further spread of the highly contagious disease.
