The government of Bangladesh will begin a measles vaccination campaign at the upazila level from Sunday, April 5, in response to a worsening outbreak across the country. Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain announced the initiative at a press conference in Dhaka on April 1, stating that vaccinations will start first in the most affected areas. Vaccines will reach those regions within two days, and all health workers’ leave has been canceled to ensure full participation.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services, measles has spread rapidly in Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Pabna, Barishal, and Mymensingh, with more than 700 infections and over 50 deaths reported. Public health experts have urged immediate government action, warning that a single patient can transmit the disease to 16–18 others if left unchecked.

Bangladesh’s routine immunization program provides two doses of the measles vaccine to children at nine and fifteen months of age through about 120,000 vaccination centers. The last national measles campaign was conducted in December 2020.