Dhaka, March 30 (IANS). Six new patients with measles-like symptoms have been admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) in Bangladesh, taking the total number of patients in the pediatric ward to 18 on Monday.
Head of Pediatrics Department of CMCH, Muhammad Musa said that all the patients have been kept in isolation.
According to reports, measles is spreading in Dhaka and many other districts. This year, 38 children have died due to infectious disease and its related complications.
According to the report of ‘The Daily Star’, 32 deaths have occurred in the month of March. Of these, 21 were recorded at the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) in Mohakhali in the capital, including three deaths that occurred on Sunday. Due to increase in the number of patients from across the country, the pressure in the hospital has increased.
According to health experts, lack of vaccination coverage is the main reason for this outbreak. Many children miss out on the expanded immunization program (EPI) or do not receive full doses, making them more vulnerable to infection.
According to reports, many children do not return for vaccination. Apart from this, sometimes lack of vaccine also makes the situation more serious.
Although overall vaccination coverage is high, about ten percent of children still remain unvaccinated. The government periodically runs “catch-up” campaigns to address this shortfall, but a program proposed for the end of 2024 could not be implemented due to unfavorable conditions, leaving many children at risk.
Experts say this situation, coupled with high population density and widespread malnutrition, has led to the rapid spread of the disease.
Shrebash Paul, junior consultant at the Mohakhali-based Infectious Diseases Hospital, said that in the first three months of 2026, 560 measles patients were admitted to the hospital, whereas in 2025 this number was only 69.
According to the report, the monthly hiring number increased from 35 in January to 88 in February and a sharp jump in March. In earlier years, only ten percent of the samples were positive. This year this figure has reached 90 percent.
Paul further said that most of the infected children are below nine months of age and have not been vaccinated yet.
With hospitals under immense pressure, patients are being treated on cabin floors, corridors and even in front of lifts as there is a shortage of beds. Although the Bangladesh government has instructed other hospitals to admit measles patients, the situation still remains critical.
Experts have called for increasing vaccination coverage, improving public awareness and quickly implementing catch-up campaigns to control the outbreak.
–IANS
AY/DSC
