The Impermanence of Public Health Gains—Lessons Learned from Measles Resurgence, Bangladesh, 2026
Abstract
The global resurgence of measles is a major public health concern. After the success of its Expanded Programme on Immunization, Bangladesh experienced a measles resurgence in 2026. The country faced major setbacks after measles vaccination coverage declined because of political instability, discontent among field-level staff, change in procurement policy, COVID-19–related service disruptions, and delayed supplementary immunization campaigns. During March 15–September 13, 2026, Bangladesh reported 170,638 suspected and 20,006 confirmed measles cases, including 919 deaths among suspected and 100 deaths among laboratory-confirmed cases. The outbreak disproportionately affected unvaccinated and underimmunized children. Political turmoil during 2024–2025 disrupted vaccine procurement, delayed mass vaccination campaigns, weakened the health workforce, and compromised financial and logistic continuity. Simultaneously, disruptions in vitamin A supplementation and worsening child malnutrition amplified disease severity. To prevent future resurgence, immunization programs must be depoliticized, supported by buffer vaccine stocks, strengthened through microlevel surveillance, and integrated with nutrition and primary healthcare services.
Related
- Bangladesh HEARTS: Lessons Learned from a National Hypertension Control Program, 2018-2026.
- Case Study on Formulating a Multidose Lyophilized Measles-Rubella (MR) Vaccine Candidate for Local Manufacturing in Africa: Lab-Scale Results and Lessons Learned for Future Technology Transfer.
- Importation-Driven Measles Resurgence and the Fragility of Elimination, Japan, 2024–2026
- Drivers of measles resurgence in Africa: Strategies to increase vaccine coverage in remote communities
- Resurgence of measles cases and determinants of measles infection in Zambia: Data from 2016-2025
BibTeX
@article{bhuiya2026impermanence,
title = {{The Impermanence of Public Health Gains—Lessons Learned from Measles Resurgence, Bangladesh, 2026}},
author = {Saju Bhuiya and Tanzir Ahmed Shuvo and Md Zakiul Hassan and Mohammad Abdul Aleem and Gazi Md Salahuddin Mamun and A.F.M. Zakaria and Mahmudur Rahman and Fahmida Chowdhury},
journal = {Emerging Infectious Diseases},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3201/eid3211.261019},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3211.261019},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The Impermanence of Public Health Gains—Lessons Learned from Measles Resurgence, Bangladesh, 2026
AU - Saju Bhuiya
AU - Tanzir Ahmed Shuvo
AU - Md Zakiul Hassan
AU - Mohammad Abdul Aleem
AU - Gazi Md Salahuddin Mamun
AU - A.F.M. Zakaria
AU - Mahmudur Rahman
AU - Fahmida Chowdhury
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Emerging Infectious Diseases
DO - 10.3201/eid3211.261019
UR - https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3211.261019
AB - The global resurgence of measles is a major public health concern. After the success of its Expanded Programme on Immunization, Bangladesh experienced a measles resurgence in 2026. The country faced major setbacks after measles vaccination coverage declined because of political instability, discontent among field-level staff, change in procurement policy, COVID-19–related service disruptions, and delayed supplementary immunization campaigns. During March 15–September 13, 2026, Bangladesh reported 170,638 suspected and 20,006 confirmed measles cases, including 919 deaths among suspected and 100 deaths among laboratory-confirmed cases. The outbreak disproportionately affected unvaccinated and underimmunized children. Political turmoil during 2024–2025 disrupted vaccine procurement, delayed mass vaccination campaigns, weakened the health workforce, and compromised financial and logistic continuity. Simultaneously, disruptions in vitamin A supplementation and worsening child malnutrition amplified disease severity. To prevent future resurgence, immunization programs must be depoliticized, supported by buffer vaccine stocks, strengthened through microlevel surveillance, and integrated with nutrition and primary healthcare services.
SN - 1080-6040
SN - 1080-6059
ER -