The pull of home — every Eid, many city dwellers follow this familiar tradition and head to their villages. Few want to give up the joy of meeting neighbors and relatives during the holiday.
But this year, experts are warning parents of young children against such Eid travel. Given the severe heat and a measles outbreak, they said, families should avoid crowds to protect their children.
Eid travel in Bangladesh routinely fills buses, launches and trains beyond capacity. Social distancing is impossible. People even ride on the roofs of vehicles. In such conditions, the risk of contracting highly contagious measles is significant.
Children who fall ill with measles in remote areas may have limited access to immediate care, doctors said. With the summer heat now under way, families with small children should consider skipping this year’s Eid travel.
Travel not advised for children under 5
Prof. Benazir Ahmed, an infectious disease specialist, said young children’s body temperature regulation does not work as well as adults’ in extreme heat. They are more easily affected by colds, coughs and other heat-related illnesses. A nationwide measles outbreak is under way on top of the current weather conditions, meaning no area is entirely safe for children. For overall protection, he said, it is best not to travel with children aged 5 or younger this Eid.
He warned that if a child develops measles symptoms during travel or in a remote area, prompt treatment may not be available. Without timely care, measles complications could become life-threatening. Parents should avoid travel at this time to prevent serious health risks, he said.
Masks required outside the home
Emeritus Prof. A.B.M. Abdullah advised parents to put masks on children any time they leave home, visit their village or enter crowded areas.
Current weather conditions could increase the risk of disease transmission, he said. He described measles deaths as deeply alarming and said the situation could grow more dangerous over the coming days.
Abdullah advised against taking children out unnecessarily during the Eid holidays, including to parks, restaurants or crowded areas. If travel is necessary, children should wear masks and follow hygiene rules. People in cities and villages alike must be equally cautious, he said.
Even a mild fever, cold or shortness of breath in a child should not be ignored, he said. Many patients arrive at hospitals too late, increasing the risks. Quick consultation with a doctor and proper treatment can avoid most of those risks. Deaths of young children deeply affect doctors as well, he said, urging families and caregivers to be more vigilant.
Vaccination is not 100 percent guarantee
Not only specialists but Health Minister Sardar Mohammad Sakhawat Hossain has also expressed deep concern. He said the heavy crowds and unrestricted movement on public transport during Eid could spread measles widely.
Speaking at a Saturday event at the Secretariat on May 23, the health minister appealed to parents: “Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads quickly through contact and respiration. I urge parents not to take children who have been infected or recently recovered to crowded places or relatives’ homes during Eid.”
He said vaccination does not give 100 percent protection against the disease. When the virus is highly aggressive, there can be exceptions. Social distancing and mutual awareness remain the primary safeguards at this time.
Latest measles figures
According to the Health Directorate, confirmed measles has killed 103 people since March 15. Suspected measles deaths over the same period stood at 442. Confirmed measles cases reached 8,622, with 63,813 suspected cases. A total of 50,558 patients have been admitted to hospitals on suspicion of measles, and 46,214 have been discharged after recovery.
By division, Dhaka had the most confirmed measles deaths at 50, followed by Barishal with 19, Chattogram with 10, Sylhet with three, and two each in Mymensingh and Rajshahi. Dhaka also led in suspected measles deaths with 174, followed by Rajshahi with 80, Sylhet with 50, Chattogram with 42, Mymensingh with 37, Barishal with 32, Khulna with 21 and Rangpur with six.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report