Sylhet: The measles outbreak in Sylhet shows no sign of easing, with deaths from measles and measles-like symptoms being reported almost every day. A four-month-old infant died during the 24-hour period ending at 8am on Wednesday. Nine children have died from the disease or its symptoms over the past week.
The number of hospital admissions is also rising steadily. In the past 24 hours, 108 new patients were admitted to hospitals and health complexes across Sylhet.
According to data from the Sylhet Divisional Office of the Directorate General of Health Services, 139 people have died in the Sylhet Division from measles and measles-like symptoms as of Wednesday morning. Of them, two were adults and the rest were children.
Sylhet has not seen a single day without a measles-related death over the past week. Deaths have occurred almost every day, with nine people dying from measles or its symptoms in the past seven days.
With 108 new admissions in the past 24 hours, the total number of patients currently hospitalized across Sylhet Division has risen to 317.
Among them, 132 patients are receiving treatment at the 100-bed measles-dedicated Shaheed Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital in Sylhet. As the number of patients has exceeded the hospital’s bed capacity, multiple children are having to share beds.
In addition, 99 patients are being treated at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, 36 at Sunamganj District Sadar Hospital, 17 at Ragib-Rabeya Medical College Hospital, 15 at Moulvibazar District Sadar Hospital, 10 at Habiganj District Sadar Hospital, 6 at North East Medical College Hospital and 1 at Bahubal Upazila Health Complex.
Dr. Md. Mahbubul Alam, Director of the Sylhet Divisional Office of the Directorate General of Health Services, said arrangements have been made at all government hospitals and upazila health complexes to provide treatment to patients admitted with measles and measles-like symptoms.
He expressed hope that the spread of measles would gradually decline over time.
