Bangladesh: Situation Report #3 - Measles Outbreak (6 May 2026)

Country: Bangladesh Source: UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Please refer to the attached file. This report was produced by the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group in collaboration with cluster coordinators and humanitarian partners, members of the Humanitarian Coordination Task Team and covers the period 24 April to 5 May 2026. Highlights • As of 5 May, Bangladesh Ministry of Health and Family Planning reported almost 43,000 suspected measles cases and over 5,700 confirmed cases, including at least 54 confirmed deaths and 263 suspected deaths. • These figures indicate approximately 18,000 new confirmed or suspected cases over a two-week period since 22 April, equivalent to approximately 9,000 cases per week. This represents a slowdown in the reported infection rate compared to the previous reporting period (with 11,000 new cases reported in the week of 15-22 April). • Children under five make up approximately 72 per cent of cases, slightly lower than in the last reporting period where the proportion was at 80 per cent. • The national measles‐rubella vaccination campaign has expanded, with over 16 million children vaccinated. • The outbreak is placing severe strain on the health system, especially in high‐burden divisions, due to overcrowding, limited isolation and referral capacity, rising demand for critical care, shortages of trained staff and essential medical supplies. • Government and partners are continuing to scale up community outreach, child‐friendly vaccination centres, Vitamin A distribution, and awareness campaigns. Efforts include targeted support to refugees, malnourished children and hard‐to‐reach areas.
2026-05-20 23:52:20