Chattogram battles stubborn measles outbreak as dengue cases climb with monsoon

Health officials say many patients are arriving from neighbouring districts, indicating poor isolation practices may be prolonging transmission

Measles infections have yet to ease in Chattogram, where hospitals are still admitting around 50 children with suspected symptoms each day even as dengue cases begin to climb, alarming health authorities.

Civil Surgeon Dr Jahangir Alam said patients with measles symptoms were continuing to arrive from neighbouring districts, indicating that transmission remained uncontrolled.

He also warned that people infected before receiving the vaccine could still develop the disease.

According to the Civil Surgeon's Office, 58 patients with measles symptoms were admitted on Thursday, including 56 to city hospitals.

During June, hospitals admitted an average of 50 suspected measles patients daily, with the highest single-day figure of 69 recorded on Jun 28.

Since the fourth week of March through Jul 2, hospitals admitted 3,871 patients with measles symptoms.

Of them, 1,604 were admitted in June, compared with 1,381 in May, 723 in April and 55 in March.

Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH), which treats the largest number of measles patients in the district, had 112 patients in its measles ward on Friday, Director Brig Gen Mohammad Taslim Uddin said.

Dr Jahangir said patients were arriving from the three hill districts, Cox's Bazar, Noakhali, and elsewhere because Chattogram serves as the divisional medical hub.

While cases had declined in Upazilas, infections persisted in the city.

Although daily admissions remain lower in Upazilas, monthly cases have increased.

Fatikchhari Upazila Health Complex treated seven children with measles symptoms in April, 12 in May and 22 in June.

Health official Muhammad Touhidul Alam said suspected cases were isolated despite laboratory tests not confirming measles.

Explaining why cases remain high despite vaccination, Dr Jahangir said outbreaks can take three to four months to subside and people infected before vaccination may still become ill.

Brig Gen Taslim added that many patients sought treatment only after complications developed and that poor compliance with isolation protocols was sustaining transmission.

The district has confirmed 331 measles cases, including 276 city residents. Twelve people with measles symptoms and three confirmed measles patients have died.

Meanwhile, dengue infections are increasing with the monsoon. The district recorded 122 dengue cases in June, the highest monthly total this year, while another 19 cases were detected during the first two days of July, bringing this year's total to 319.

Dr Jahangir warned that simultaneous measles and dengue outbreaks could double public health risks.

A June survey found Aedes mosquitoes in 27 percent of city households and identified eight wards as red zones.

Mayor Shahadat Hossain said dengue infections remained lower than in previous years and compared with Dhaka, noting that 118 patients were city residents, 129 came from Upazilas and 70 from other districts.

He said mosquito control operations had begun in affected areas.

Authorities are also strengthening treatment capacity.

A separate 50-bed dengue ward at Chattogram Medical College Hospital will open on Saturday.

Brig Gen Taslim said the hospital had sufficient medical supplies, adding that fluid therapy remains the primary treatment for dengue.