Measles surge grips Dhaka as DNCC hospital reports ten deaths in two weeks

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The DNCC Dedicated COVID-19 Hospital in Dhaka’s Mohakhali has shifted its focus exclusively to treating patients suffering from measles and related symptoms, as a surge in infections continues to overwhelm the facility. Between June 1 and June 15, the hospital admitted 1,756 patients, including 608 individuals aged five and older. During this two-week period, the facility recorded 10 deaths, all of whom were children under the age of two.

According to Asif Haider, an administrative officer at the hospital, diagnostic testing has confirmed the severity of the outbreak. Out of 180 samples processed over the last 15 days, 102 returned positive for measles, while 35 were negative and 43 results remain pending. In the most recent 24-hour window, the hospital admitted another 89 patients, bringing the total number of individuals currently under medical supervision to 345, with 55 patients requiring critical care in the intensive care unit.

The influx of patients from across the country has created significant strain on both families and hospital staff. On Tuesday, parents were seen navigating crowded corridors, struggling to balance the care of infected children while attempting to protect healthy siblings from cross-contamination within the facility. For many families, the lack of childcare options at home forces them to bring healthy children into the high-risk hospital environment, heightening fears of further spread.

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Clinical observations suggest that many patients are arriving at the hospital only after initial symptoms—such as fever, diarrhea, and rashes—have persisted for several days or failed to respond to local pharmacy treatments. Mothers waiting in long admission queues reported that they had initially sought help from local doctors or pharmacies before being referred to the specialized facility as the condition of their children deteriorated.

As the caseload continues to climb, the facility remains the primary destination for those exhibiting symptoms, highlighting the urgency of the current health crisis as hospital authorities work to manage the continuous stream of patients arriving from various regions.