Two more children have succumbed to measles and its severe complications in the Sylhet division within the last 24 hours, taking the total death toll from the outbreak across the region to 154. The latest fatalities were officially confirmed by Dr Mohammad Nure Alam Shamim, Assistant Director of the Sylhet Health Directorate.
Among the deceased, a four-month-and-twenty-day-old infant named Ayan passed away while undergoing treatment at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital. The second victim, a one-year-and-two-month-old child named Ibrahim from Habiganj Sadar upazila, died while receiving care at the Shahid Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital in Habiganj.
Official surveillance reports released by the health administration reveal that 399 patients showing acute symptoms of measles are currently admitted across various hospitals in the division. The healthcare system is facing immediate strain, with 154 new patients admitted in the last 24 hours alone—a sharp influx that underscores the escalating surge of viral infections across local communities.
Since the surveillance period began on 1 January, laboratory testing has confirmed measles in 1,031 individuals across the division. However, laboratory confirmation remains relatively low amongst the fatalities; of the 154 recorded deaths, 10 were formally confirmed as measles through laboratory tests, whilst the remaining 144 children died after presenting severe, clinically compatible symptoms. This disparity highlights the challenge of timely diagnostic testing amidst a widespread outbreak, where clinical evaluation often takes precedence in emergency care settings.
Measles is a highly contagious, airborne viral disease characterised by high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a distinctive rash. In young children—particularly those suffering from underlying malnutrition or compromised immune systems—the virus frequently leads to severe, life-threatening complications such as severe diarrhoea, acute respiratory infections, pneumonia, and encephalitis. Time-critical medical interventions and supportive care are essential to prevent fatalities among vulnerable infants.
The ongoing wave of hospitalisations has placed severe logistical pressure on pediatric wards, district hospitals, and upazila health complexes throughout Sylhet. Medical personnel are maintaining round-the-clock monitoring and triage protocols for incoming patients. Public health officials continue to stress the importance of expanding routine measles-rubella (MR) immunisation coverage, prompt isolation of suspected cases, and early clinical management to curb further community transmission across the region.
