MONG SING HAI MARMA, Bandarban

At least 83 patients have been undergoing treatment with measles symptoms in Bandarban, including some confirmed cases, as of Monday, according to the district civil surgeon’s office.

The situation is particularly critical in Alikadam upazila, where most of the cases have been identified.

Dr Md Shahin Hossain Chowdhury, civil surgeon of Bandarban, said a temporary medical camp was set up on Saturday at Kurukpata Bazaar in Alikadam upazila to control the situation. The camp has facilities to treat up to 30 patients at a time, along with three doctors, three nurses, one laboratory specialist, and an assistant civil surgeon on duty.

Doctors said 65 patients came with fever and rashes to the camp on day one, while 55 came with similar symptoms on the following day (Sunday). Of them, three were confirmed to have measles on the first day and another six on the next day. The infected individuals are being treated at the camp, they added.

According to the civil surgeon’s office, at least 28 patients are being treated with measles symptoms in Alikadam upazila and six each in Lama and Naikhongchhari upazilas.

Most of the infected are children from the Mro and Marma communities.

However, no cases have so far been reported yet in the district headquarters, Thanchi, Ruma, and Rowangchhari upazilas.

Dr Md Hanif Chowdhury, a physician at Alikadam Upazila Health Complex, said 28 Mro children from Kurukpata union are admitted to the hospital with measles symptoms; they are all residents of the union.

Also, at least 35 out of around 150 Mro children at the “Plennoi Hostel” in Yangring Para of Kurukpata union have been diagnosed with measles symptoms, said locals.

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