Measles outbreak worsens across Chattogram

Over 10,000 cases reported, 39 dead so far

The measles outbreak in Chattogram continues to worsen, with the number of cases reaching 10,073 yesterday and hospitals struggling to cope with the influx of patients.

Since the outbreak began in mid-March, 39 people have died from measles and measles-like symptoms, while 9,749 patients have recovered and returned home, according to the Chattogram Civil Surgeon’s Office.

In the 24 hours till yesterday morning, two suspected measles deaths and 38 hospitalisations were recorded in the district.

“The measles situation in Chattogram is difficult to bring under control at the moment. A large number of patients continue to be hospitalised with measles symptoms. We are genuinely worried,” said Divisional Health Director Sheikh Fazle Rabbi.

Chattogram Medical College Hospital is particularly overwhelmed, with patients more than double its designated capacity for treating measles and similar symptoms.

The hospital has a 50-bed measles unit, 15 beds in the Paediatric ICU and 16 in the isolation ward.

During a visit yesterday, three children were seen sharing one bed, while many others were being treated on the floor.

Akbar Hossain from Halishahar said his two-and-a-half-year-old son had been receiving treatment on the hospital floor for five days due to a shortage of beds.

Prof Dr Mohammed Musa, head of CMCH’s Pediatric Health Department, said 157 children were receiving treatment in the measles block and another 10 in the ICU.

Around 25-30 new patients were arriving daily, he added.

CMCH Director Brig Gen Taslim Uddin said overcrowding and inadequate space were making it increasingly difficult to prevent cross-infection.

Health officials have identified nine high-risk wards in the port city: Jalalabad, Chandgaon, North Pahartali, Lalkhan Bazar, East Bakalia, Alkaran, South-Central Halishahar, South Halishahar and North Patenga.

Dr Kamrun Nahar, associate professor of Pediatric Health at CMCH, recommended raising routine measles vaccination coverage above 95 percent and reviewing the national immunisation schedule to consider administering MR vaccines at six months.

She also called for vaccinating women aged 15-45 to strengthen maternal immunity, improving hospital infection control through rapid patient screening, isolation and ventilation, strengthening child nutrition programmes, ensuring regular Vitamin A supplementation and introducing laboratory-backed outbreak surveillance.