Three children have died with measles symptoms in Moulvibazar over the past three weeks, while laboratory tests confirmed measles and rubella infections in 18 people in the district.
Health officials said 16 people tested positive for measles and two for rubella after laboratory examinations.
According to the Civil Surgeon’s Office, the deaths were reported in Sreemangal, Kulaura and Kamalganj upazilas.
Among the deceased children, one was aged one year and five months, while the other two were only nine months old. Laboratory tests later confirmed measles infection in all three cases.
However, the health department said two of the deceased children, reported from Sreemangal and Kulaura, had been living in Sylhet. Their names were included in Moulvibazar records as their permanent addresses were in the district.
To assess the spread of the outbreak, the health department has collected 424 samples from different parts of the district and sent them to Dhaka for testing.
District EPI Supervisor Md Abdur Rahman said measles vaccination activities had been intensified across all upazilas of the district.
“The actual number of infections will be known after the final laboratory reports are received,” he said.
Moulvibazar Civil Surgeon Md Mamunur Rahman said the district had ensured measles vaccination coverage and achieved 98 per cent of the immunisation target.
“However, it takes at least one month after vaccination for the body to develop full immunity against the disease,” he said.
The health department has strengthened field-level surveillance to contain the situation.
Authorities also urged guardians to ensure timely vaccination for children and seek medical advice immediately if symptoms such as fever, skin rashes or signs of measles appear.
