April 6 (UPI) -- Bangladesh launched an emergency vaccination campaign to protect more than a million children from measles, after at least 98 children have died from the disease since March 15.
Measles is extremely contagious and requires 95% vaccination to prevent its spread. Bangladesh last had a vaccination campaign in 2020 and planned a second one in 2024. But political unrest in the country prevented the 2024 attempt.
At least 100 people have died in Bangladesh from suspected measles between March 15 and April 4, according to the country's Directorate General of Health Services. The official count of confirmed measles deaths is 17. There have been more than 7,500 suspected cases and more than 900 cases have been confirmed. In 2025, there were 125 cases of measles in the country.
The vaccination campaign began on Sunday. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman lowered the vaccination age from 9 months to 6. Many of those infected were under the age of initial vaccination.
The campaign is led by the health directorate, with help from the United Nations Children's Fund, the World Health Organization and global vaccine alliance Gavi. It will focus on 18 specific high-risk districts, then on May 3, it will go nationwide.
