Measles Outbreak Hits Rajshahi Division; 29% Detection Rate Sparks Alarm

A highly contagious measles outbreak is rapidly spreading among children across the Rajshahi division, with laboratory tests confirming a 29% detection rate. Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and regional health officials indicate that the virus has now been identified in all eight districts of the division.

Dr. Md. Habibur Rahman, the Divisional Director of Health, confirmed on Saturday that since mid-March, children with measles symptoms have been flooding regional hospitals. Out of 153 samples tested by the WHO through March 18, 44 returned positive for measles.

Despite the high infection rate and the airborne nature of the virus, a lack of adequate isolation facilities is forcing hospitals to treat infected children alongside general patients. The situation at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) has reached a breaking point as medical protocols are ignored due to overcrowding.

Although RMCH spokesperson Dr. Shanker Kumar Biswas claimed symptomatic patients are sent to the Infectious Diseases Hospital, a visit on Friday found no such patients there. Instead, children with visible symptoms remained in RMCH’s overcrowded general pediatric wards.

Tragically, several infants have died after failing to secure intensive care. On Friday morning, seven-month-old Humayra and nine-month-old Farhana passed away while waiting for ICU beds.

Other critically ill infants, such as eight-month-old Jannatul Mawa and five-month-old Hiya, remain in general wards with ICU serial numbers as high as 29 and 32. RMCH currently has only 12 pediatric ICU beds, which are managed under the hospital's own limited resources.

Families of the deceased have alleged that hospital authorities are omitting "Measles" from death certificates, instead citing "Pneumonia" or other complications. However, the death certificate of 2.5-month-old Johir, who died on March 18, explicitly listed "Measles" as the cause.

Professor Shahida Yasmin, Head of Pediatrics at RMCH, admitted that while two isolation wards exist, they lack sufficient oxygen supply. With over 700 patients admitted against a 200-bed capacity, maintaining isolation is nearly impossible for the staff.

Similar struggles are reported at the private Barind Medical College Hospital, where Director Professor Dr. Belal Uddin noted a massive influx of cases. On a single day, 60 out of 75 admitted children showed clear measles symptoms.

The outbreak has impacted all eight districts in the division, with numbers surging particularly in Chapainawabganj. Divisional Director Dr. Habibur Rahman stated that health workers are continuing to collect samples and monitor the situation.

Experts warn that the failure to isolate infected children in hospitals, combined with the current bed crisis, is facilitating the rapid transmission of the virus. Authorities are being urged to launch emergency vaccination campaigns to prevent further fatalities.