It is one of the deadliest ever recorded in the country: the measles epidemic that broke out in March in Bangladesh has soon claimed a thousand lives, and the country's hospitals are overflowing.
In the Shishu hospital in the capital Dhaka, the corridors echo with the cries of young patients and the hiss of ventilators.
Rima Akter never leaves her 9-month-old son's bedside.« A child died just an hour ago. They carried him out on a stretcher right in front of us.«,« confides the worried 30-year-old mother.« That makes two deaths already, just for today… »
According to the latest figures from the Bangladeshi Ministry of Health, the virus has claimed the lives of 986 children since it began six months ago, and the number of cases of infection has exceeded 180,000.
More than a thousand cases are still being recorded every day in the country of 170 million inhabitants.
A child receives treatment for measles at Shishu Hospital, September 4, 2026 in Dhaka, Bangladesh (Credit: AFP – Salahuddin Ahmed)
Measles is considered one of the most contagious diseases in the world by the World Health Organization (WHO), which estimates that it causes 95,000 deaths each year, especially among unvaccinated children under 5 years old.
“ I've been going to several hospitals since July to find a vaccine for my son.«" , despairs Sanjana Islam Modina, 19, as she cradles her 6-month-old child, Ayan, who is on life support.
«"Very weak"»
The baby's skull is pockmarked with the dark spots characteristic of measles.
A child receives treatment for measles at Shishu Hospital, September 4, 2026 in Dhaka, Bangladesh (Credit: AFP – Salahuddin Ahmed)
He was admitted to the hospital in July for pneumonia and subsequently contracted the virus. He was hospitalized in mid-August in intensive care before being transferred to the measles ward.
The Shishu hospital has 101 patients, for suspected or confirmed cases of the disease.
In her room, Sanjana Islam Modina struggles to calm her son.« He has been on oxygen continuously for five days.«" she said, "« His lungs were already very weak due to pneumonia; the measles only worsened their condition.“.
Doctors regret that many parents only decide to bring their child to the hospital when they are already in a serious condition. Often too late.
A child receives treatment for measles at Shishu Hospital, September 4, 2026 in Dhaka, Bangladesh (Credit: AFP – Salahuddin Ahmed)
And they observe that many of their patients suffer from malnutrition, worsening their condition.
Ayan belongs to this category.
“ The doctors prescribed my son a milk specifically designed for malnourished children.«" , confirms his mother, wiping the child's forehead, bathed in sweat.
The measles epidemic highlighted the flaws in the system for preventing childhood diseases.
Emergency vaccination
She is "« overwhelming«" , acknowledged SM Ziauddin Hyder, the health affairs advisor to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
SM Ziauddin Hyder, health advisor to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, during an interview with AFP in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on September 3, 2026 (Credit: AFP – Sukanta KUMAR)
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Bangladesh has long been praised for its efforts in combating infectious diseases. But the political chaos and administrative disorganization that followed the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government in 2024 have undermined these efforts.
And the emergency vaccination campaigns ordered since the spring have not been able to restore the situation.« A significant number of children were unable to receive their doses.«" explains Mr. Hyder, "« we are trying to catch up“.
Former head of the Institute for Disease Control and Research (IDCR), epidemiologist Mahmudur Rahman doubts that this will be sufficient.
Parents wait with their children at Shishu Hospital to receive treatment for measles, September 3, 2026 in Dhaka, Bangladesh (Credit: AFP – Salahuddin Ahmed)
“ Expert groups must determine (…) whether further vaccinations are required and studies on vaccine efficacy are also needed, quickly«", prescribes Dr. Rahman.
He also emphasizes the importance of isolating the sick and informing the parents.
Rima Akter insists that she doesn't need it.
“ We know how contagious this disease is.«" she said.« Our son was first admitted to the hospital for bronchitis. And then after being discharged, he had to go back because of measles.“.
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