A growing outbreak of measles, a highly contagious viral disease, has raised alarms across Chattogram, with at least 12 children admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) showing symptoms of the infection. Most of the affected children are under 15 months old, including two below six months, and many come from Cox’s Bazar.
A major concern for health officials is the absence of any advanced laboratory or testing facility for measles in the Chattogram region, which is home to nearly 50 million people.
As a result, samples must be sent to Dhaka for confirmation, causing a delay of two to three days in receiving results. This lag hampers timely treatment and allows the disease to spread further among healthy children, raising the risk of a large-scale outbreak.
The first lab-confirmed case in Boalkhali upazila involved a five-month-old child, Ali Bin Selim, from Kadhurkhil Union. Admitted on 23 March with fever, cough, and breathing difficulties, the child later developed the characteristic measles rash, red eyes, and mouth redness.
The child had previously been treated at Chattogram International Medical College Hospital, where it is suspected he may have contracted the virus. Samples collected on 25 March were confirmed positive on 28 March after being tested in Dhaka. He has since been transferred to the measles ward at CMCH for specialised treatment.
Chattogram Civil Surgeon Dr Jahangir Alam highlighted the limitations of the healthcare system in the region. “Relying solely on Dhaka for laboratory confirmation is a major challenge for 50 million people,” he said. He confirmed that at least 12 suspected cases are currently under observation, with all samples awaiting confirmation from Dhaka.
Hospitals in Chattogram are already under strain. CMCH has converted an area previously used as a ‘dengue corner’ into a ‘measles corner’ to isolate affected children. Chattogram General Hospital and Chattogram Mother and Child Hospital have also admitted children with suspected measles. Hospital Director Brigadier General Mohammad Taslim Uddin said, “Patients are being isolated based on clinical symptoms, but confirmation is not possible without laboratory reports. Dependence on Dhaka for testing delays treatment and puts children at greater risk.”
Experts warn that measles can spread rapidly. One infected child can transmit the disease to eight to ten others. Airborne and highly contagious, measles can quickly reach epidemic proportions if not identified and contained. Complications may include pneumonia, encephalitis, and severe dehydration, all of which can be fatal if treatment is delayed.
Dr Mohammad Musha Miah, Head of the Department of Child Health at CMCH, stressed the importance of timely vaccination. “Receiving the MMR vaccine on schedule is the primary preventive measure against measles,” he said.
Health authorities have intensified contact tracing and vaccination programmes in affected areas. However, experts warn that local efforts alone are insufficient. In densely populated areas like Chattogram, establishing local testing facilities and conducting large-scale measles-rubella (MR) vaccination campaigns are essential to prevent the outbreak from spiralling out of control.
Public health experts also note that gaps in vaccination coverage have contributed to the outbreak. Many children have not received regular MR vaccines, and no major immunisation campaigns have been conducted in recent years. Following the first confirmed case in the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar earlier this year, the disease has spread to Cumilla and other parts of Chattogram.
Authorities are urging parents to monitor their children closely for symptoms, ensure timely vaccination, and seek immediate medical care if any signs of measles appear. Without swift action and improved local healthcare infrastructure, experts warn that Chattogram could face a serious public health crisis.
