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Many families also have limited knowledge about the risks of infectious diseases such as measles and the importance of modern treatment, while deep-rooted trust in traditional healing practices continues to shape healthcare decisions.

Medical experts warned that measles is a highly contagious viral disease that can lead to severe complications, including pneumonia and diarrhoea, and may even cause death if untreated.

They also cautioned that consuming unprocessed or unknown substances, such as extracts from forest vines, may pose additional health risks to children who are already ill.

Meanwhile, 12 new patients with measles-like symptoms were admitted to Alikadam Upazila Health Complex yesterday, raising the total number of such patients currently being treated at the hospital to 52, said Dr Md Hanif, upazila health and family planning officer in Alikadam.

So far, there have been 133 suspected measles cases in the upazila. Of them, 107 patients were admitted to the hospital.

Among the admitted patients, 52 have been discharged after recovery, four were referred to Cox’s Bazar Medical College Hospital in critical condition, and 26 received treatment at outpatient and emergency departments, he said.

Under the directive of the Bandarban civil surgeon, a medical team comprising three doctors, three nurses, and one assistant civil surgeon has been working at a temporary camp set up at Moitree Government Primary School in Kurukpata union.

However, as most measles patients are coming from the remote border area of Poyamuhuri hills, another temporary medical camp has been set up at Bidyamoni Government Primary School in the Poyamuhuri area, with the initiative of the Mro Youth Organisation, he said.

Due to the lack of electricity at this remote temporary camp, only basic primary care is being provided, and all patients are being referred directly to the upazila health complex.

If there were solar power facilities, comparatively mild cases could have been treated at the temporary camp itself, Dr Hanif added.