A renewed outbreak of measles in Sylhet division has claimed the lives of three more infants, intensifying public health concerns over the spread of measles and rubella in the region.
According to health officials, the deaths occurred between 6:00 pm and 11:00 pm on Thursday at the Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital and Shahid Shamsuddin Hospital, where the children had been receiving treatment for severe measles-like symptoms and complications.
The deceased infants include a five-month-old boy from Akhalia in Sylhet city, a six-month-old boy from Shantiganj upazila in Sunamganj, and a seven-month-old infant from Bishwambarpur upazila, also in Sunamganj district. All three children reportedly developed serious complications after showing symptoms consistent with measles infection.
With these latest fatalities, the death toll linked to measles symptoms in Sylhet division has risen to 23, underscoring the growing severity of the outbreak.
Health authorities report that the region has witnessed a sharp rise in suspected and confirmed cases in recent weeks. Over the past 24 hours alone, 53 new patients exhibiting measles-like symptoms were admitted to various hospitals across the division, while laboratory testing confirmed one additional case.
A breakdown of hospital admissions shows that Shahid Shamsuddin Hospital received the highest number of new patients, followed by district-level hospitals in Sunamganj and Moulvibazar, along with private medical facilities and upazila health complexes.
Measles Situation in Sylhet Division (2026)
| Indicator | Number |
|---|---|
| Total confirmed measles cases | 142 |
| Sunamganj | 71 |
| Sylhet | 42 |
| Moulvibazar | 16 |
| Habiganj (including 2 rubella cases) | 13 |
| Total deaths (suspected measles cases) | 23 |
| New admissions (last 24 hours) | 53 |
| Current hospitalised suspected cases | 241 |
At present, 241 patients suspected of measles infection are undergoing treatment across various health facilities in the division. Shahid Shamsuddin Hospital alone is treating 104 patients, while others are distributed across Sunamganj District Hospital (58), Moulvibazar District Hospital (17), Habiganj District Hospital (15), and Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital (9), among others.
Officials from the Directorate of Health in Sylhet have confirmed that surveillance and response activities have been intensified. They have also urged parents to ensure timely vaccination for children and to seek medical care immediately if symptoms such as high fever, rash, cough, or eye irritation appear.
Acting Divisional Health Director Dr. Mohammad Nurul Alam Shamim confirmed the latest fatalities and said that efforts are ongoing to control the outbreak, including monitoring new admissions and increasing awareness in affected upazilas.
Health experts warn that low immunisation coverage in some rural and hard-to-reach areas may be contributing to the continued spread of the disease, making urgent vaccination campaigns and community outreach essential to containing the outbreak.