Authorities have opened a dedicated isolation centre in Sylhet as measles infections continue to rise, with dozens of patients admitted in recent days.

The 4th unit of Sylhet Shaheed Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital has been designated as an isolation facility to treat measles patients, hospital sources said.

Since the facility began operations on March 26, a total of 30 patients have been admitted over the past three days, with 16 currently undergoing treatment.

According to hospital officials, 14 patients have already been discharged, while three new patients were admitted on Sunday.

Resident Medical Officer Dr Md Mizanur Rahman said many of the patients are suffering from complications, including pneumonia. Among those admitted are two siblings aged 20 and 22, while the rest are children.

A parent, Sabbir Ahmed from the city’s Madina Market area, said his one-and-a-half-year-old daughter was admitted with fever, cough and diarrhoea and was later diagnosed with measles. He said she had received the first dose of the measles vaccine at nine months but had not yet taken the second dose scheduled at 15 months.

Deputy Director of Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital Mahbubur Rahman said patients were initially treated in isolated arrangements within the hospital, but the growing number of cases prompted authorities to shift them to a separate facility.

Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr Janmejoy Dutta said the situation is being closely monitored, with regular supervision at the isolation centre. Patients from Sylhet city, district and across the division are receiving treatment there.

Health officials stressed that as measles is highly contagious, isolating patients remains a key step in containing the spread.