Dhaka: As measles resurges among children across Bangladesh, public health experts opined placing community-based healthcare services at the center of the national response. Health professionals broadly agree that a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach-integrating vaccination, nutrition, primary healthcare, and community-based epidemiological surveillance-is crucial to curb the outbreak.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, eminent epidemiologist and public health expert Prof. Dr. Pravat Chandra Barua emphasized the significance of investing in community healthcare systems to not only curb the current measles resurgence but also strengthen Bangladesh’s overall capacity to respond to future public health threats. Dr. Barua, former Line Director of TB and Leprosy at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), stressed that community healthcare workers must lead the response. He advocated for evidence-based policymaking to protect the country’s most vulnerable children and ensure long-term public health resilience.
Public health specialists highlighted the essential role of community healthcare providers, including health assistants and family welfare workers, in combatting the outbreak. These frontline workers are engaged in door-to-door visits, early symptom identification, and real-time reporting. They also play a crucial role in raising awareness, encouraging vaccination, and ensuring timely referrals. Strengthening these services is deemed essential not only for surveillance but also for improving vaccination outcomes.
Experts further identified deeper structural issues driving the resurgence, such as maternal undernutrition, low birth weight, and inadequate infant feeding practices, all contributing to weakened immunity and increased infection severity in children. Dr. Barua noted that many affected families face overlapping vulnerabilities, including early marriage, poor maternal health, and lack of access to reliable primary healthcare services. He highlighted the role of community-based healthcare services in addressing these social determinants of health through direct engagement with families.
The government launched an emergency, nationwide measles-rubella vaccination campaign in April 2026, aiming to immunize 1.8 crore (18 million) children aged 6 to 59 months. Supported by UNICEF, WHO, and Gavi, the campaign began in 30 high-risk upazilas on April 5 and expanded nationwide by April 20. Over 96 percent of the target children have already been vaccinated.
Experts emphasized the need to modernize epidemiological surveillance through digital reporting tools, active case detection, and continuous data analysis at the local level. Health officials attributed the spike in infections, now reported in 58 districts, to disruptions in routine vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to missed scheduled doses.
Doctors warned of the contagious nature of the virus, with a single infected individual capable of transmitting it to up to 18 others. Common symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, and inflamed eyes, followed by a red rash. Severe infections can lead to complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, blindness, and ear infections. Malnourished children are particularly at risk of severe illness and death, raising concerns among public health officials.
The routine immunization schedule in Bangladesh provides measles vaccines at nine and 15 months. However, during the current outbreak, officials are encouraging additional doses, maintaining a minimum one-month interval between shots. Alongside vaccination, authorities are advocating preventive measures, such as isolating infected children, wearing masks, and maintaining hygiene to reduce transmission.
A fresh consignment of vaccines, including 1.5 million doses of measles rubella (MR) vaccine and 9,00,000 doses of tetanus-diphtheria (Td), arrived in the country on May 6 as part of the government’s efforts to strengthen the nationwide immunization program. Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain expressed optimism about the sufficiency of vaccine supplies, noting that the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) had been affected by previous government decisions but is now a priority for the current administration.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), from March 15 to May 9, a total of 33,631 people have been admitted to hospitals with suspected measles, with 29,746 having recovered and been discharged. The DGHS data showed that 65 children have died from confirmed measles infections, while 344 have died from suspected measles infections since March 15. A total of 34,909 suspected measles patients have been admitted to hospitals across the country during the period, with 30,862 recovering and being discharged after treatment.