What's happening
Bangladesh is experiencing a deadly measles outbreak that has claimed more than 500 lives, predominantly children, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera reporting on May 23. Hospitals in Dhaka are filling with sick children, as documented by CBS News and The New York Times. The outbreak, described as "massive" and "severe," has sickened thousands of children across the country.
Impact on travelers
Measles is highly contagious and spreads through respiratory droplets. The disease poses particular risk to unvaccinated individuals and children. Travelers visiting Dhaka or other affected areas in Bangladesh face increased exposure risk, especially in crowded public spaces, healthcare facilities, and areas where children gather.
What to do
Travelers planning to visit Dhaka should:
- Verify measles vaccination status before travel. The MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine is highly effective.
- Consult a healthcare provider at least 4-6 weeks before departure if vaccination or booster shots are needed.
- Families traveling with infants too young for routine vaccination should reconsider non-essential travel.
- Seek immediate medical attention if symptoms develop (fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, followed by a rash).
The outbreak remains active as of May 23, 2026, with hospitals continuing to receive new cases.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dhaka safe to travel to right now?
A severe measles outbreak in Bangladesh has killed more than 500 people, mostly children, with Dhaka hospitals overwhelmed by cases. See Kakapo's live Dhaka safety report for the up-to-date composite score, neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood breakdown, and per-source advisories from US State Dept, UK FCDO, Canadian government, and Australian Smartraveller.
What happened in Dhaka?
Measles outbreak in Dhaka kills over 500, mostly children. A severe measles outbreak in Bangladesh has killed more than 500 people, mostly children, with Dhaka hospitals overwhelmed by cases. This is a incident based on reporting from major travel-news outlets — see the cited sources below for the original coverage.
Should I cancel my trip to Dhaka?
Most travel-safety events do not require cancelling a planned trip. Read the "What it means for travelers" section above for the specific guidance, check the live Dhaka safety report for the current overall score, and consult your travel insurance for cancellation eligibility. Kakapo updates the Dhaka safety profile as new advisories land.
Where can I find more travel safety news?
Kakapo publishes new travel-safety updates as events develop, sourced from BBC, Reuters, the Guardian, Al Jazeera, Deutsche Welle, France 24, US State Dept, and UK FCDO. Visit the live travel-news feed at kakapo.travel/travel-news for the latest.
