Why is Bangladesh facing dengue and measles outbreaks at the same time?

BBC South Asia expert Anbarasan Ethirajan said Bangladesh recorded 173 dengue deaths in October alone, driven by Aedes mosquitoes, patients arriving at hospital too late, repeat infections and a shifting monsoon. The measles outbreak, the world's worst, followed missed infant vaccinations during the country's 2024 to 2025 political turmoil and has killed more than 1,200 people, most under five. Hospitals are so full that patients lie in verandas and corridors.

• About 20 million children have since been vaccinated against measles, with UNICEF helping.
• The government hopes to bring measles under control by the end of the year.
• Doctors are urging anyone with a fever to come to hospital straight away.

▸In their words

“If you get fever, come as soon as possible.” Anbarasan Ethirajan · at 21:49 — open in the transcript →

Source: our own transcription of the episode. The full conversation is on Global News Podcast (2026-11-01). Read the whole episode summary →

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