The spread of measles and related deaths continued in Sylhet even on the public holiday marking Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (peace be upon him). On the holiday, 126 people suspected of having measles were admitted to hospitals across the division, while another person died with suspected measles.
With the latest death, the total number of suspected and confirmed measles-related deaths in Sylhet Division has risen to 146.
The information was revealed in an updated report issued by the Office of the Divisional Director of Health on Wednesday (August 26).
According to the health authorities, 126 suspected measles patients were admitted to hospitals across Sylhet Division in the past 24 hours. Of them, 49 were admitted to Shaheed Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital, 61 to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, two to North East Medical Hospital, four to Beanibazar Upazila Health Complex, one to Zakiganj Upazila Health Complex and nine to Moulvibazar Sadar Hospital.
Currently, 320 suspected measles patients are undergoing treatment at different hospitals across the division. Among them, 130 are receiving treatment at Shaheed Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital and 118 at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital. In addition, 13 patients are at Ragib-Rabeya Medical College Hospital, five at North East Hospital, four at Beanibazar, one at Zakiganj, 20 at Sunamganj Sadar Hospital, two at Jamalganj, eight at Habiganj Sadar Hospital and 19 at Moulvibazar Sadar Hospital.
The health department report said one person died of suspected measles in the past 24 hours. The child was from Jaintapur upazila of Sylhet and had been undergoing treatment at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital.
From January 1 to August 26 this year, the number of laboratory-confirmed measles cases in Sylhet Division reached 1,025. Of these, 357 cases were reported in Sylhet, 153 in Habiganj, 158 in Moulvibazar and 357 in Sunamganj.
The death toll also presents a worrying picture. According to health department data, 136 people have so far died from suspected measles—53 in Sylhet, 15 in Habiganj, 12 in Moulvibazar and 56 in Sunamganj.
Among the deaths, four in Sylhet, four in Habiganj, one in Moulvibazar and one in Sunamganj were confirmed as measles-related. Altogether, the number of suspected and confirmed measles deaths in the division now stands at 146.
