Bangladesh Measles Outbreak Pushes Stricken Families Deeper Into Debt

DHAKA-Bangladesh’s worst measles outbreak in decades has not only claimed hundreds of children’s lives but also imposed a severe financial burden on affected households, with most families forced to borrow money to meet treatment-related costs, humanitarian organizations said on Monday.

The outbreak has killed at least 844 children and sent more than 112,000 people to hospitals since March 15, according to Bangladesh health department figures. The disease, which is preventable through vaccination, continues to spread despite an ongoing nationwide immunization campaign.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society said nine out of 10 families surveyed had taken on debt to pay expenses linked to caring for children with measles.

“The effects of this measles health emergency do not end at the hospital door, as families often face severe financial hardship,” Alberto Bocanegra, the IFRC’s chief in Dhaka, said in a statement. He said humanitarian assistance and stronger social protection systems were essential during public health emergencies.

The findings are based on an assessment of 2,746 families who sought treatment for their children at 12 government health facilities across the country.

Although treatment at government hospitals is provided free of charge, families continue to face significant indirect expenses. The assessment found that affected households spent an average of more than $130 on treatment-related costs, including transportation, medicines and other necessities.

Thirty-five percent of surveyed families said they required financial assistance to purchase medicines, while 22 percent reported needing food support during their children’s hospitalization.

Many of the households affected by the outbreak depend on informal employment and earn between $48 and $160 per month, making unexpected medical expenses particularly difficult to absorb.

Hazera Khatun, one of the caregivers interviewed during the assessment, said she spent about $200 on hiring an ambulance to transport her child to a hospital in Dhaka because those costs were not covered despite free hospital care.

The assessment also found that many caregivers lost income or employment because they were required to remain in hospital for extended periods while caring for sick children.

“The assessment shows that many families are facing not only a health emergency but also a severe financial strain,” Kabir M. Ashraf Alam, secretary-general of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, said.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease transmitted through coughing and sneezing. While there is no specific treatment after infection, vaccination is widely regarded as the most effective means of preventing the disease. Serious complications can include brain inflammation and severe respiratory illness, with young children facing the greatest risk.

Health experts have linked the scale of the outbreak in part to disruptions in routine immunization during and after Bangladesh’s 2024 anti-government uprising, leaving many children without protection against the virus.

Authorities have launched a nationwide vaccination campaign in an effort to contain the outbreak. However, infections continue to be reported, and fatalities persist. On Sunday alone, four children died from suspected measles, highlighting the continuing challenge facing the country’s health system.