DHAKA — A measles outbreak in Bangladesh has killed almost 400 people and produced more than 56,000 suspected cases nationwide, according to figures reported by the Directorate General of Health Services as of early May. The number of suspected cases has more than doubled since the beginning of April, the agency said.

Most of those who have died in recent weeks have been children. Measles has been detected in 58 of Bangladesh's 64 districts.

Miguel Mateos Muñoz, UNICEF representative in Bangladesh, attributed the surge in part to vaccination gaps. "There has been a change in the vaccine supply by the government, which has led to delays and a three-year immunity gap. To be effective there should be two doses of the vaccine, but we are seeing children who have received either only one dose of the vaccine or no vaccine at all," Mateos Muñoz said.

"A rapid emergency vaccine campaign has been underway since the 5th May, and it has already reached its target of vaccinating 18 million children," he said.

Measles can lead to complications such as pneumonia, diarrhoea, secondary ear infection, encephalitis, blindness, and death, according to the World Health Organization. About two or three deaths may occur for every 1,000 reported cases, the WHO said. There is no specific antiviral treatment for measles.

Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to the disease. If an unvaccinated person is exposed to measles, there is about a 90% chance of contracting an infection. People with measles can spread the virus from four days before through four days after the rash appears, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The WHO estimates that nearly 100,000 people died from measles in 2024 despite the availability of effective vaccines. Mexico, Guatemala, parts of South Asia, and Africa are currently experiencing outbreaks, according to the CDC.