Bangladesh ramps up emergency measles-rubella campaign as outbreak deaths top 100

Bangladesh is ramping up an emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign as the outbreak worsens and reported child deaths pass 100.

The campaign, launched on April 5 with support from UNICEF, WHO and Gavi, is targeting children aged six months to five years in 30 upazilas across 18 high-risk districts. Officials say the rollout will expand in phases.

Latest reporting from the Associated Press said the outbreak has killed more than 100 children in less than a month. Earlier official and local reports pointed to vaccine shortages, missed campaigns and immunity gaps as major factors behind the surge.

UNICEF’s official release said the emergency drive is intended to protect more than 1.2 million children. Health officials have said the immediate goal is to prevent further spread while improving coverage among under-immunized children.

Bangladesh’s health minister has also blamed previous governments for shortages in vaccine stock and said the ministry is tightening monitoring and coordination as the response gets under way.

The new figures make the campaign more urgent, turning what had already been a high-risk public health response into a wider emergency effort across the worst-affected districts.