16 More Children Hospitalized with Measles in Pabna; 72 Currently Under Treatment

The measles outbreak in Pabna has intensified, with 16 new pediatric admissions reported at the Pabna 250-bed General Hospital within the last 24 hours. Currently, 72 children are undergoing treatment at the facility.

Hospital records indicate that 218 patients have been treated for measles at this hospital over the past month. The surge has overwhelmed the pediatric department; while the ward has only 38 beds, over 200 patients—suffering from measles and other illnesses—are currently admitted. To manage the crisis, authorities have established a dedicated isolation unit.

In response to the spike, the District Civil Surgeon’s Office launched a targeted Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign on April 5, focusing on four high-risk upazilas. Massive crowds have been reported at Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) centers. The campaign will run until April 18.

Pabna Sadar 55,657 children (including 26,558 within the municipality). District Total 183,666 children across Sadar, Atgharia, Ishwardi, and Bera upazilas.

Health officials stated that medical teams are working around the clock. Patients showing severe complications beyond standard symptoms are being prioritized for emergency care. As measles is highly contagious, the public is urged to remain vigilant and ensure children are vaccinated immediately.