Five children, suffering from measles, died while 100 more have been infected at three villages in Baghaichhari upazila of Rangamati district, according to the district Health Department.
Civil Surgeon Bipash Khisa said on Friday that three children died on March 15, 16 and 17, while two on February 26 and 29.
The deceased were identified as Sagorika Tripura, 11, Sujon Kumar, 9, Kohen Tripura, 10, Bidhan Tripura, 12, and Rojina Tripura, 8, reports UNB.
The Civil Surgeon said two medical teams of the Health Department are now providing medical services to the affected children at the three villages.
However, the situation is now under control, he claimed.
Karbari Juppuithank Tripura, a UP member of Sialdah area, said children in the remote area are getting infected by measles which left the five children dead.
Ahsan Habib Jitu, Bagaichhari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), said, “Though two medical teams have been sent, we'll seek help from the army to deal with the situation. I hope, it’ll improve soon.”
In August 2018, four children died from measles at remote Tripura Palli on a hill in Hathazari upazila of Chittagong district. Besides, nine children died at Tripura Palli on a hill in Sitakundu upazila of the district in July 2018.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. It remains an important cause of death among young children globally, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine.
While vaccination has drastically reduced global measles deaths — a 73 per cent drop between 2000-2018 worldwide — measles is still common in many developing countries, particularly in parts of Africa and Asia, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
More than 140,000 people died worldwide from measles in 2018. The overwhelming majority (more than 95 per cent) of measles deaths occur in countries with low per capita incomes and weak health infrastructures.
