MSF supports measles vaccination drive in Cox’s Bazar Rohingya camps

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is supporting an ongoing measles vaccination campaign in Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar, where more than 330 suspected and 40 laboratory-confirmed cases have been recorded, including three deaths.

Nearly 160 suspected cases have also been identified in surrounding host communities, raising concerns over the spread of the disease beyond the camps, said MSF in a statement today, citing health sector data.

MSF said its teams are providing care to affected children from both Rohingya refugee camps and surrounding host communities, while also assisting the vaccination campaign launched by health authorities.

“Measles cases had been reported regularly in the district earlier this year, but we observed a sharp increase from March, accelerating further in April,” said Mieke Steenssens, MSF country medical coordinator.

In April, MSF treated 284 measles patients across its facilities in Cox’s Bazar, of whom 82 required inpatient care due to the severity of their condition.

“On April 19, we opened a new isolation unit in Jamtoli camp, which serves as a referral centre for all camps,” said Mieke Steenssens. “It is already at full capacity, and we are preparing to double its bed capacity.”

At Goyalmara Mother and Children Hospital, 40 percent of measles patients required inpatient care, with some needing intensive care. At Kutupalong Hospital, 15 of 71 patients admitted over a 20-day period required hospitalisation.

“Among patients with confirmed measles cases in the camps, around three-quarters were unvaccinated,” said Steenssens. “The proportion of unvaccinated children in host communities is also very concerning. This calls for increased immunisation efforts.”

MSF said it is supporting the vaccination campaign launched by health authorities in Rohingya camps on April 26.

“The disease is preventable with two doses of a safe, low-cost, and highly effective vaccine,” said Steenssens.