Over the weekend, Bangladesh documented more than 1,300 suspected measles cases and two deaths, pushing the country’s tally to nearly 71,000 infections and 585 fatalities since the outbreak began in mid-March, according to the Bangladeshi Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Media reports say the situation is dire and not abating, with the healthcare system severely strained by nearly 57,000 measles admissions. And officials say they fear another surge after last week’s mass celebrations for the Eid al-Adha holiday, in which millions of Bangladeshis returned to their hometowns without public health mitigation measures in place.

Most victims are young children

Of the 70,936 total cases and 585 deaths, a respective 9,049 and 90 have been lab-confirmed, the National Herald India reports. A total of 52,841 of the 56,886 hospitalized patients (93%) have recovered and are being released to home.

Four of five measles patients are younger than 5 years, per the New York Times. The vast majority of deaths have also been in this age-group, which is highly vulnerable to the airborne virus. Measles can result in long-term complications and death. 

Arab News reports that vaccination campaigns that had largely contained measles outbreaks since the 1990s were disrupted in 2024 after student-led protests overthrew the government. The interim cabinet, which governedBangladesh through elections in late February, didn’t conduct a supplementary mass vaccination campaign as it should have.

UNICEF official Rana Flowers said last week that the agency repeatedly warned health officials about vaccine shortages starting in 2024, according to NPR. Other agencies, such as the World Health Organization and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, also asked the government to address dwindling vaccine supplies. 

In April, the country’s new government launched an emergency campaign to vaccinate 20 million children but has thus far administered only one of the two doses required for strong, durable immunity. 

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