OUR CORRESPONDENT, Bandarban

A measles outbreak has gripped remote Mro villages in Kurukpata union of Alikadam upazila in Bandarban. According to local health authorities, the infection has spiralled “virtually out of control”.

As of 4:30pm on Wednesday, hospital sources reported 77 measles cases.

Since April 25, a total of 166 measles cases have been identified, with 138 patients receiving hospital care. Of them, 58 have recovered and been discharged, while 77 remain under treatment.

During this period, 28 patients received outpatient or emergency care.

Dr Mohammad Hanif, upazila health and family planning officer, said, “Our health complex has only 30 beds, but we are currently providing care to 120–130 patients daily. Doctors, nurses, and health workers are working under severe hardship, yet we are providing round-the-clock services.”

Most of the affected are children from remote Mro communities.

A local Mro youth organisation alleged that vaccination teams never reached remote hill villages, leaving children vulnerable. Many families mistook measles for common fever or relied on traditional beliefs, delaying treatment and worsening the spread.

The organisation demanded mobile medical teams, intensified vaccination, safe drinking water, and nutrition support.

Meanwhile, at a press conference yesterday, District Civil Surgeon Dr Md Shahain Hossain Chowdhury claimed that the district had achieved 97.99 percent vaccination coverage.

He also claimed that in Alikadam and remote Kurukpata Union, 8,043 children out of a target of 7,932 had already been vaccinated, achieving 101.04 percent of the vaccination target.

When pressed about unvaccinated children in remote villages, he admitted that extreme remoteness and communication breakdowns might have prevented coverage in some areas.