Sylhet, Aug. 2: The number of measles infections in Bangladesh's Sylhet Division continues to rise at an alarming rate, with 16 new laboratory-confirmed cases reported over the past 24 hours.
During the same period, 80 suspected measles patients were admitted to hospitals across the division, while 242 suspected patients are currently receiving treatment. Health authorities also confirmed one measles-related death in the last 24 hours.
The latest update was released on Sunday (August 2) by the Office of the Divisional Director of Health under its regular Measles and Rubella Situation Report.
According to the report, a total of 678 confirmed measles cases have been recorded across Sylhet Division between January 1 and August 2 this year. Of them, 227 cases were reported in Sylhet district, 62 in Habiganj (including two rubella cases), 52 in Moulvibazar, and 337 in Sunamganj, the highest among the four districts.
Over the past 24 hours, 80 suspected patients were admitted to hospitals. Of them, 22 were admitted to Shaheed Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital, 51 to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, 2 to Ragib-Rabeya Medical College Hospital, 3 to North East Medical College Hospital, and 2 to Sunamganj District Sadar Hospital.
At present, 242 suspected measles patients are undergoing treatment in hospitals across the division. The breakdown includes 75 patients at Shaheed Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital, 80 at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, 10 at Ragib-Rabeya Medical College Hospital, 8 at North East Medical College Hospital, 1 at Golapganj Upazila Health Complex, 38 at Sunamganj District Sadar Hospital, 3 at Habiganj District Sadar Hospital, and 25 at Moulvibazar District Sadar Hospital.
Health officials said that a three-month-old infant from Sunamganj district died from measles during the past 24 hours. With this latest fatality, the number of confirmed measles-related deaths in Sylhet Division has risen to six this year. Including both confirmed and suspected cases, the total death toll has reached 114.
District-wise data show that the combined number of confirmed and suspected deaths stands at 40 in Sylhet, 12 in Habiganj, 13 in Moulvibazar, and 49 in Sunamganj.
The Health Department has urged parents to ensure timely vaccination of children, seek immediate medical attention if fever and red skin rashes appear, and keep infected individuals isolated to help prevent further transmission of the disease.
