Measles outbreak in Bandarban's Alikadam: Another child dies, death toll now 7

The measles outbreak in the remote Kurukpata union of Alikadam upazila in Bandarban has taken a serious turn, with another patient dying from the disease. The latest death brings the total number of fatalities linked to the ongoing outbreak in the union to seven.

The latest victim is Sangprong Mro, 18, of Dowla Mro Para in ward 7 of Kurukpata union, who was undergoing treatment for fever and diarrhoea.

She died while undergoing treatment around 7:45am at the Alikadam Upazila Health Complex.

It is to be noted that she got married at the end of April.

On Thursday, one-year-old Tumrao Mro, son of Menthok Mro from Menroa Para under ward 7 of the union, died around 10:30am while undergoing treatment at Cox’s Bazar Medical College Hospital, confirmed Dr Sushanta Ghosh, resident physician at the hospital, to The Daily Star.

Hospital sources said the child was referred to Cox’s Bazar Medical College Hospital from Alikadam Upazila Health Complex around Wednesday midnight after his condition deteriorated with measles symptoms.

Alikadam Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Mohammad Hanif told The Daily Star that the child had been under treatment at the upazila health complex for nearly three days before being referred to Cox’s Bazar.

He also said that 73 more children from the Mro community in different remote areas of Kurukpata union are currently undergoing treatment with measles symptoms.

On May 11, a child aged around 13 died with measles-like symptoms. He could not be identified by health officials.

Earlier on April 11, two children -- Jongrung Mro, aged three months, and Khatong Mro, aged seven months -- died with similar symptoms in Ringlat Para under ward 7 of the union. Later, on April 23, Changmum Mro, 8, daughter of Pasong Mro from Ruiton Para under ward 9, also died. Tangtui Mro, 13, was the first victim to die of measles-like symptoms in the union.

The series of child deaths drew nationwide attention, prompting the upazila administration and the district Civil Surgeon’s Office to strengthen measles-rubella vaccination drives in different remote villages of Kurukpata union.

An emergency medical camp has also been set up at Moiti Government Primary School near Kurukpata Bazar.