9th death from measles in Hill Tracts

One more child from Tripura community died of measles in Dighinala upazila of Khagrachhari.

The deceased, Dhonika Tripura (10), a student of third grade and daughter of Amindro Tripura of remote Rati Chandra Karbari Para under the upazila, died on Saturday afternoon, reports our Bandarban correspondent.

"Primarily, we suspect the cause of her death is measles", said Dr Tanoy Talukder, health and family planning officer in the upazila.

"We have already visited the spot and found around 20 children suffering from measles," he said.

Around nine children have so far died of measles in Rangamati's Baghaichhari upazila, Bandarban's Lama upazila and Khagrachhari's Dighinala upazila since February 26.

"Dhonika was a brilliant student. She suffered for the last six days with fever, rash and cold," said Dhaneemoy Tripura, headmaster of Rati Chandra Para Primary school, a non-government educational institution in the area.

"We are very poor. We couldn't arrange treatment of our daughter for lack of money," lamented Amindro Tripura.

Around 30 children of Rati Chandra Tripura Para, Hemon Tripura Para, and Jerok Tripura Para under Dighinala upazila are suffering from measles, locals said.

Contacted, Md Ullah, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Dighinala upazila, said, "I have visited the affected spots and discussed the matter with our high officials."  

This year, the campaign to vaccinate 34 million children, aged between nine months and 10 years, for measles and rubella in the country was scheduled to begin on Wednesday.

But the campaign was postponed due to the ongoing closure to prevent the spread of coronavirus.