Chittagong is grappling with a growing measles outbreak, with nine city wards identified as hotspots and hospitals struggling to accommodate a rising number of patients.
At Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH), 116 patients with measles symptoms are currently receiving treatment, far exceeding the capacity of the hospital's dedicated measles ward.
Hospital authorities say the outbreak has already infected more than 2,300 people across the district and claimed 13 lives, including three confirmed measles deaths.
Patients exceed ward capacity
A visit to CMCH on Sunday found 80 children undergoing treatment in the hospital's 50-bed measles ward. In many cases, two children were sharing a single bed.
The situation was similar in Ward 9 on the second floor, where 36 suspected measles patients were receiving treatment. Many of them required oxygen support and intravenous fluids.
Doctors and nurses said patients whose conditions improve are transferred from Ward 9 to the measles ward before being discharged after recovery.
Among those admitted was four-and-a-half-year-old Tasfia Akhtar, who was brought to the hospital on Friday night with fever, cough and a widespread rash.
Her father, Md Ruman, said his daughter was initially admitted to Ward 9 before being transferred to the measles ward.
"Her condition has improved, but there are two children in each bed and there is very little space," he said.
CMCH is receiving patients not only from Chittagong city but also from Cox's Bazar, the three hill districts, and other districts of the division, including Cumilla, Noakhali, Brahmanbaria, Chandpur, Lakshmipur and Feni.
Adults also affected
While children account for most cases, adults have also been infected.
Hospital authorities said six patients aged between 14 and 24 have been admitted with measles symptoms. A 25-year-old intern doctor also contracted the disease while treating infected patients.
CMCH Director Brig Gen Mohammad Taslim Uddin said the hospital is managing patients in both the measles ward and Ward 9.
"Due to the high number of admissions, some beds are being shared by two patients. We are also seeing infections among adults and healthcare workers," he said.
Nine wards declared hotspots
The World Health Organization's Surveillance and Immunization Medical Officer (SIMO) for the Chittagong City Corporation area, Khadija Ahmed, recently identified nine wards as measles hotspots based on the concentration of cases.
The wards are Jalalabad (Ward 2), Chandgaon (Ward 4), North Pahartali (Ward 9), Lalkhan Bazar (Ward 14), East Baklia (Ward 18), Alkaran (Ward 31), South Central Halishahar (Ward 38), South Halishahar (Ward 39) and North Patenga (Ward 40).
"According to WHO guidelines, Bangladesh is currently experiencing a measles outbreak. Cases are being detected not only in Chittagong but across the country," Khadija said.
More than 2,300 infections recorded
According to the Civil Surgeon's Office, 2,313 measles cases have been reported in Chittagong district so far. Of them, 2,215 were recorded in the city and 98 in other parts of the district.
On Saturday alone, 71 patients with measles symptoms were admitted to hospitals, including 69 in the city.
A total of 13 deaths have been linked to the outbreak, including three laboratory-confirmed measles fatalities.
Testing hampered by shortage of kits
Health officials say a lack of testing facilities remains a major challenge.
Although the Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases (BITID) in Fauzdarhat has a laboratory capable of conducting measles tests, testing has not begun due to a shortage of kits and pending approval.
As a result, samples collected from suspected patients are being sent to the National Polio and Measles-Rubella Laboratory in Dhaka.
Civil Surgeon's Office data show that samples from 1,445 suspected cases have been sent for testing so far. Of those, 1,162 were from the city and 283 from other parts of the district.
District Civil Surgeon Dr Jahangir Alam said test reports are usually received within two to three days.
BITID Professor Dr Mamunur Rashid said the institute has the laboratory capacity to conduct measles testing locally.
"We have already requested the necessary kits. Testing can begin once we receive the kits and approval," he said.
Vaccination coverage remains high
Despite the outbreak, health officials remain optimistic that the situation can be brought under control.
Dr Jahangir Alam said children aged six months to five years have been receiving measles vaccinations under the national immunization programme.
"Vaccination coverage in Chittagong is nearly 100%. We hope the outbreak will subside within the next few months," he said.
