Health authorities across the Sylhet division are battling a dual healthcare crisis as a severe outbreak of measles coincides with a troubling rise in dengue cases. Official data released by the Divisional Health Office confirms that laboratory tests have verified 1,044 measles infections across the region to date. Local healthcare facilities are facing severe strain as admissions of patients exhibiting measles-like symptoms continue to rise steadily alongside vector-borne illnesses.
The regional distribution reveals that Sylhet and Sunamganj districts remain the most severely affected areas, recording 376 and 357 confirmed measles cases respectively. Moulvibazar has documented 158 cases, whilst Habiganj has reported 153. Over the past 24 hours, 153 individuals presenting with suspected measles symptoms were admitted to various regional hospitals for emergency care.
Tragedy struck again at the Shaheed Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital, where a five-year-old child, Mim Tahsin Nizam, succumbed to the illness. This latest casualty brings the total death toll from confirmed and suspected measles across the division to 160. District-wise figures indicate that Sylhet accounts for the highest mortality with 65 deaths, followed closely by Sunamganj with 59, Habiganj with 22, and Moulvibazar with 14 recorded fatalities. Currently, 499 patients are receiving hospital care for measles across the division, with the largest contingents admitted to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital (194 patients) and Shaheed Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital (149 patients).
Compounding the health crisis, dengue fever infections are accelerating across the north-eastern region. Dr Md Mahbubul Alam, Divisional Director of Health, confirmed that 13 new dengue cases were detected over the past 24 hours. Between 1 January and 10 September, total dengue cases reached 261.
Habiganj remains the hotspot for dengue transmission with 115 cases, followed by Sunamganj with 59, Sylhet district with 49, Moulvibazar with 27, and 11 cases originating from surrounding areas. Two fatalities linked to dengue complications have been officially documented this year, while 29 patients remain admitted across tertiary hospitals. The simultaneous surge of measles and dengue has placed immense strain on regional medical infrastructure, prompting public health officials to monitor isolation wards and emergency resources closely.
