Although measles infections have declined significantly in Chattogram, health officials have warned that the risk remains high as unvaccinated children in communities and remote areas continue to remain vulnerable.
They said unless these children are brought under vaccination coverage, the possibility of new infection hotspots will persist.
In the first half of the year, the measles outbreak in Chattogram took a severe turn. The pressure of patients at Chattogram Medical College Hospital increased so much that the old dengue ward had to be converted into a separate block for measles patients.
However, recent data have brought some relief.
According to the DGHS Health Emergency Operation Center & Control Room, the Chattogram division reported 207 suspected measles cases and 88 laboratory-confirmed cases in the 24 hours to July 31, with no deaths recorded.
During the same period, 207 patients were admitted and 169 were discharged.
Since March 15, the division has recorded 23,758 suspected cases, including 61 deaths, and 2,253 confirmed cases with 10 deaths. A total of 23,710 patients have been hospitalized, of whom 22,752 have been discharged.
Chattogram Medical College Hospital paediatrician Mohammad Musa said the situation is now largely under control and patient admissions have declined.
To contain the spread, a month-long special vaccination campaign was launched in Chattogram City Corporation areas from 20 April and in the upazilas from 20 May. A target was set to vaccinate more than 300,000 children in the city.
According to DGHS data, Chattogram City Corporation vaccinated 330,064 children against a target of 300,285, achieving 110 percent coverage.
In Chattogram division, the vaccination campaign set a target of 4,296,218 children. A total of 46,09,872 children were vaccinated, achieving 110 percent of the target.
Chattogram Civil Surgeon Jahangir Alam said, “The emergency MR vaccination campaign has produced positive results. As vaccination rates have increased, the number of infections, hospital admissions and complications have declined.”
However, several areas and groups remain a concern for the health department. In particular, unvaccinated children among floating communities, those living in remote hill areas and areas adjacent to Rohingya camps remain at risk of infection.
The Civil Surgeon acknowledged the challenge and said, “Our health workers are now paying special attention to these areas and identifying children who were missed to bring them under vaccination coverage.”
Professor Ashish Kumar Chakraborty of the Child Health Department at Chattogram Medical College Hospital said, “Although the emergency vaccination campaign has been effective in controlling the outbreak temporarily, routine immunisation systems must be strengthened further for long-term protection. Ensuring that no child remains outside vaccination coverage will be the only way to prevent future outbreaks.”
The Chattogram health department said it would continue infection surveillance, increase awareness among parents and ensure full participation in regular vaccination programmes.
However, the severity of measles is not merely a matter of statistics; countless families have endured suffering and tears because of the disease.
Two-year-old Rafi, the son of Mohammad Alam, a resident of Bakalia in the city, was recently admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital after contracting measles. When Rafi arrived at the hospital with a high fever, rashes across his body and breathing difficulties, his family was gripped by severe fear.
Rafi’s mother Sayera Khatun recalled those days, saying, “We spent several days in great fear. After returning from the hospital, we realised that if he had received the vaccine on time, perhaps we would not have had to suffer so much.”
For those who have lost family members, the pain is even greater.
