Amid growing concern over the spread of measles-rubella in neighbouring Bangladesh, authorities in Tripura’s border district of Unakoti have intensified surveillance, immunisation and public awareness measures to prevent any possible outbreak in the region. The move comes as health officials confirmed the detection of a few positive cases in parts of the district, prompting the administration to strengthen precautionary efforts.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Unakoti District Magistrate Megha Jain said the state remains vulnerable because of its long international border with Bangladesh and regular movement of people in border areas. Tripura shares an approximately 856-kilometre border with Bangladesh, making continuous monitoring and preventive action essential in the current situation.
The District Magistrate informed that several measles-rubella cases had already surfaced in areas of Unakoti district in recent months, including Latiapura village, Irani area and Riyat Para. She said these cases have highlighted the need for immediate and sustained preventive measures.
Describing the disease as highly contagious, Jain noted that measles-rubella primarily affects young children, particularly those between zero and five years of age whose immune systems are still developing. She stated that health authorities have identified a number of children who were left out of earlier vaccination coverage and a special immunisation drive has now been launched to ensure that all children up to ten years of age receive the MR vaccine.
Under the existing vaccination programme, children are administered the MR-1 vaccine at nine months of age, followed by subsequent MR-2 doses. Officials said MR-1 vaccine coverage in the district has reached nearly 99.9 percent, although hesitation regarding the MR-2 dose still exists in some pockets.
The District Magistrate appealed to parents not to panic and urged them to immediately contact nearby health centres if children develop fever along with reddish skin rashes or eruptions.
Health officials informed that daily door-to-door surveys are being conducted by ASHA workers under the supervision of the Chief Medical Officer’s office. Awareness campaigns are also being carried out through Panchayati Raj institutions, schools, Anganwadi centres and various departments.
Officials said the situation currently remains under control, with five active measles-rubella cases reported in Unakoti district. All infected children are receiving treatment and necessary medical support. Authorities have assured that surveillance and vaccination efforts will continue to prevent further spread of the disease.
