The measles situation in Bangladesh’s Sylhet division has become increasingly concerning, with more than 1,000 confirmed cases reported so far. At the same time, dengue infections continue to rise, adding further pressure to the region’s health services.
According to the divisional health authorities, a total of 1,044 people have been diagnosed with measles across Sylhet division. Sylhet district has recorded the highest number, with 376 confirmed cases, closely followed by Sunamganj with 357. Moulvibazar has reported 158 cases, while 153 have been identified in Habiganj.
Although no new confirmed measles case was reported during the latest 24-hour period, hospitals continued to receive a substantial number of patients suspected of having the disease. A total of 153 people were admitted with suspected measles symptoms during that period.
One child also died while receiving treatment. Five-year-old Mim Tahsin Nizam died at Shaheed Shamsuddin Hospital. The death brought the total number of people who have died from measles or suspected measles in the division to 160.
Sylhet district has recorded 65 of those deaths, while Sunamganj has reported 59. Habiganj has recorded 22 deaths and Moulvibazar 14.
The number of patients currently receiving treatment also remains high. A total of 499 measles patients are being treated at hospitals across the division. Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital has the largest number of patients, with 194 currently admitted, while another 149 are receiving treatment at Shaheed Shamsuddin Hospital.
The continued admission of suspected cases alongside confirmed infections has placed sustained pressure on hospitals, particularly facilities receiving large numbers of patients. The figures also underline the scale of the outbreak across several districts rather than in a single locality.
Dengue is adding another layer to the health situation in the division. Dr Md Mahbubul Alam, director of the Directorate General of Health Services’ Sylhet divisional office, said 13 new dengue cases were recorded during the past 24 hours.
With those new cases, the number of dengue infections recorded in the division between 1 January and 10 September this year has risen to 261.
Habiganj accounts for the largest share, with 115 dengue cases. Sunamganj has recorded 59, followed by Sylhet with 49 and Moulvibazar with 27. A further 11 cases have been reported from other districts.
Dengue has so far claimed two lives in the division. At present, 29 dengue patients are receiving treatment at hospitals, including Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital.
The figures present Sylhet’s health authorities with two concurrent public-health challenges. While the measles outbreak continues to generate hospital admissions and fatalities, dengue infections are also being recorded across all four districts of the division. With hundreds of patients currently undergoing treatment for measles and dozens receiving care for dengue, hospitals remain under considerable pressure to manage both conditions simultaneously.
The latest figures also show that the health situation is evolving on two fronts: measles remains the more extensive of the two outbreaks in terms of reported cases and hospital admissions, while dengue continues to add new patients to the healthcare burden. Continued monitoring of both diseases and the capacity to provide timely treatment will therefore remain central to managing the situation in the division.
