Bangladesh Reports 1,105 Measles Cases and 9 Deaths in Last 24 Hours with a Tally of 51,000 Cases
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team May 13, 2026 50 minutes ago
Medical News: Bangladesh is battling one of its worst measles outbreaks in decades as health authorities confirmed that more than 1,100 new suspected infections and nine additional deaths were recorded within the last 24 hours alone. The alarming figures released by the Bangladesh Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) have pushed the total number of suspected measles cases nationwide to 51,567 since March 15, while confirmed cases have now exceeded 7,024.
Bangladesh faces an explosive measles crisis as infections surpass 51,000 and child deaths continue to rise nationwide
The rapidly spreading outbreak has triggered widespread concern among health experts and government officials, especially as hospitals across the country continue to struggle with mounting pediatric admissions. Authorities revealed that nearly 37,000 children suffering from measles symptoms have required hospitalization since mid-March, although more than 32,000 have since recovered and been discharged.
Children Under Five Most Severely Affected
Data released by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) showed that children under five years old accounted for 61 percent of all laboratory-confirmed measles cases in 2026. Particularly concerning is the fact that 22 percent of infected children were infants younger than nine months, an age group highly vulnerable to severe complications due to immature immune systems.
Older children are also increasingly affected, with 37 percent of confirmed cases occurring among those aged 5 to 15 years. Health authorities noted that females represented 51 percent of all confirmed infections.
Vaccination records have exposed a major weakness in the country’s immunization system. According to official findings, 83 percent of confirmed measles patients were either completely unvaccinated or had received only a single vaccine dose. Only 17 percent of infected individuals had completed the recommended two-dose measles vaccination schedule.
Dhaka Division Emerging as Epicenter
The Dhaka Division currently carries the heaviest disease burden, although significant outbreaks are also being reported from Rajshahi and Chattogram divisions. Officials confirmed that all three of the latest laboratory-confirmed deaths occurred in Dhaka, while six additional children died exhibiting measles-like symptoms.
The outbreak marks a dramatic escalation compared to previous years. Bangladesh typically reported fewer than 280 confirmed measles cases annually over the last five years. In contrast, 2026 has already seen confirmed infections surge beyond 7,000 within just a few months.
This
Medical News report highlights growing fears that disruptions to national immunization programs during 2024 and 2025, coupled with prolonged shortages of measles and rubella vaccines, may have contributed heavily to the present crisis.
Prime Minister’s Adviser on Information and Broadcasti
ng, Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman, described the situation as a national disaster and announced that authorities would launch a credible investigation into possible negligence and vaccine supply failures.
Public health experts warn that unless emergency vaccination drives are rapidly expanded and healthcare access improved, Bangladesh could face an even larger humanitarian crisis in the coming months. The combination of low vaccine coverage, vulnerable children, and increasing transmission rates creates conditions for continued fatalities and prolonged nationwide spread of the disease.
References:
https://dghs.gov.bd/pages/press-releases/%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AE-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B8-%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%9C-%E0%A7%A7%E0%A7%A8%E0%A7%A6%E0%A7%AB%E0%A7%A8%E0%A7%A6%E0%A7%A8%E0%A7%AC-eidw1b-6a02e29f6762733bbf9ab797
https://www.newsonair.gov.in/bangladesh-measles-outbreak-claimed-9-more-deaths-during-24-hrs/
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