Four more children die from measles

At least four more children have died from suspected measles and related complications in the last 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 44 so far this year.

Two children died in suspected measles cases at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) in the last 24 hours, taking the hospital’s tally of fatalities from the highly contagious infection so far this year to three, said its spokesman Shankar K Biswas.

As of yesterday, 98 suspected measles patients are admitted to the hospital, he added.

However, several media outlets, including Prothom Alo, reported that 12 measles patients died at RMCH until Sunday. At that time, RMCH admitted one death only.

If this number is taken into consideration, the total number of deaths from measles would be 55.

One child died at Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) in the capital’s Mohakhali in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll from suspected measles cases at this medical facility to 25, said its superintendent Tanzina Jahan.

A total of 617 suspected measles patients have been treated at the hospital since January.

A five-and-a-half-month-old infant, admitted with symptoms of measles, died while undergoing treatment at Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) yesterday.

The victim, identified as Aisha Siddika from Jhilong in Cox’s Bazar, was brought to the CMCH late Monday night. Due to her critical condition, she was shifted to the intensive care unit, where she passed away yesterday morning.

Chattogram Civil Surgeon Mohammed Jahangir Alam confirmed the death, stating that although the child exhibited classic symptoms of measles, the cause of death is yet to be “officially confirmed”.

Her samples have been sent to the laboratory of the Institute of Public Health in Dhaka to determine if she indeed died from measles, Alam said.

Earlier, six children died at Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute and five at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH), with four of the victims hailing from Chapainawabganj.

Although the Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute reported six suspected measles deaths this year, the authorities could confirm three deaths, said Reaz Mubarak, the institute’s acting director.

A total of 2,100 patients with suspected measles cases were admitted to the hospital this year as of Sunday, according to officials at the Directorate General of Health Services.

Of them, 676 tested positive, an official said, wishing not to be named.

Among the measles patients, 70.9 percent did not receive any vaccination for the infection; around 17 percent took the first dose and 11.2 percent both the doses, he said.

In Shariatpur, 25 samples were collected from different parts of the district after symptoms were identified over the past two weeks and sent to Dhaka for testing.

Of them, 15 were confirmed positive, said Shariatpur Civil Surgeon Rehan Uddin.

Three children have died at the IDH in Dhaka, he said. Those deaths were supposed to be included among the 25 deaths at IDH.

In Patuakhali, 45 patients have been hospitalised in the district in the past month. No deaths have been reported so far, according to the Office of Civil Surgeon Khaledul Rahman.

In Sylhet, a dedicated isolation unit has been opened at Shaheed Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital to manage the influx of patients.

As of yesterday, 16 patients were receiving treatment at the facility, with two in critical condition, said Resident Medical Officer Mizanur Rahman.

In Chandpur, an isolation unit at Chandpur General Hospital has also been opened to handle the growing number of patients.

As of yesterday, 28 children had been admitted for treatment, said Civil Surgeon Nure Alam Din.

In Gazipur, measles cases have also risen, with 15 new infections reported in the district, said Civil Surgeon Mamunur Rahman.

(Our district correspondents from Shariatpur, Sylhet, Gazipur and Patuakhali also contributed to the report)