Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain on Sunday said that the lack of large-scale measles vaccination campaigns over the past years has left many children unvaccinated, which is a major factor behind the rise in infections.
Most cases are being reported among those who have not received the vaccine,” the minister said.
He shared the details on Monday following a meeting at the Secretariat with a delegation led by the United States Ambassador to Bangladesh, Brent T. Christensen.
The minister added, “Steps are being taken to ensure rapid vaccine delivery. Once the vaccines are available, a nationwide special campaign will be launched immediately.”
As an immediate response to the measles outbreak, the government has bolstered medical services in the capital and other affected areas. The closed ICU at Mohakhali Infectious Disease Hospital has been reopened, and essential medical equipment, including ventilators, has been dispatched to various districts, the minister informed.
He urged the public to remain vigilant but not panic, assuring that the government is actively working to control the situation.
Bangladesh is witnessing a sudden surge in infectious disease measles cases, with hospitals in the capital and other regions reporting a sharp increase in patients. Officials have attributed the outbreak to the absence of a comprehensive vaccination program, noting that the country currently faces a shortage of measles vaccines.
The BNP-led government has already begun efforts to procure the required vaccines, with a nationwide vaccination campaign expected to launch once supplies are secured, potentially in June.
