Seven Khumi children die as Measles outbreak strikes Bandarban's Ruma

A sudden measles outbreak in the remote hills of Bandarban's Ruma upazila has claimed the lives of seven Khumi children in just 15 days, while nearly 100 children have sought treatment since early June, exposing low vaccination coverage and the fragile state of healthcare in the region.

The deceased – Frele A Khumi, 9, Khrepa Khumi, 13, Shoifra Khumi, 13, Khretem Eng Khumi, 6, Poli Eng Khumi, 7, Pretem Eng Khumi, 7, Prolong Khumi, 4 – were all from Letong Para in Ruma Sadar Union.

Residents say every child showed measles symptoms before dying. Two died while relatives were carrying them along steep hill tracks to Ruma Upazila Health Complex, while the others died in the village before reaching medical care.

Letong Para, home to about 28 Khumi families, is one of the area's most isolated settlements, requiring a two-hour walk from the nearest point accessible from Boga Lake.

Ruma Upazila Health Complex data show around 100 children received treatment for measles symptoms between 6 June and 27 July. Of them, 22 were referred to Bandarban Sadar Hospital, 65 have recovered, and 13 remain admitted.

Hospital under pressure

At the Health Complex yesterday, children with measles filled a dedicated isolation ward as new patients continued arriving from remote villages.

Among them were siblings Chongi Mro and Kaingpa Mro, admitted after five days of fever and rashes failed to respond to paracetamol. Another patient, a 12-year-old Khumi boy studying at a hostel in Gazipur, returned home after contracting measles before being hospitalised.

Volunteer Mongkyaching Marma has been helping families communicate with doctors and nurses. "Most guardians don't know what to do or whom to ask for help," he said, adding that all six patients admitted earlier from Niyakkhyong Para have recovered.

Severely ill patients are referred to Bandarban Sadar Hospital. Yesterday, four children had to be taken there in a hired jeep because Ruma Health Complex's only ambulance has remained out of service.

Low vaccination, scarce resources hamper response

Vaccinator Uthowai Sing Marma said health workers recently found children with measles symptoms in almost every household in Letong Para, where many families had initially relied on herbal remedies instead of medical care. They vaccinated 30-35 children aged one to six and identified three critically ill children, one of whom died while being taken to hospital.

Ruma Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Abdullah Al Hasan blamed the outbreak on low vaccination uptake among remote Khumi and Mro communities and students returning from outside the district after contracting measles, unknowingly infecting unvaccinated children. Although around 15% of vaccinated people may still contract the disease, they are far less likely to develop severe illness, he said.

Authorities have launched a week-long vaccination drive with support from the administration, the Army, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and local representatives.

The response, however, is strained by limited resources. The health complex's only ambulance is unusable due to mechanical faults, while its 10-bed facility is feeding 20-25 patients daily. 

At Bandarban Sadar Hospital, 25 measles patients are admitted, including four-year-old Prelung Khumi, who has been referred to Chattogram Medical College Hospital after his oxygen saturation fell to 80-85% because the district hospital lacks ICU facilities.

District Council health committee convener Dr Sanaipru Tripura said a medical team will remain in the affected villages until the outbreak is contained, while efforts are underway to address shortages of ambulances and food.