17 more children hospitalised in Ctg with measles, pneumonia symptoms; infections detected in 2

At least 17 more children have been admitted to different hospitals in Chattogram in a single day with symptoms of measles and pneumonia, with infections detected in two children.

Of them, 15 are in the metropolitan area and two at the upazila level.

According to district health department data, a total of 95 children are currently undergoing treatment in hospitals in Chattogram with such symptoms.

Chattogram Civil Surgeon Dr Jahangir Alam told The Business Standard today (5 April) that newly admitted children are showing symptoms such as fever, breathing difficulties and skin rashes consistent with measles and pneumonia, and that samples from 20 children were sent to Dhaka for testing in the last 24 hours, including 15 from the metropolitan area and five from upazila areas.

"So far, tests have confirmed measles in two more children, bringing the total number of infected children in the district to 14. In the last 24 hours, 11 children have recovered and returned home after treatment," he added.

Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) Director Brigadier General Mohammed Taslim Uddin told TBS that 46 children with symptoms of measles and pneumonia are currently undergoing treatment at the hospital, including eight in the PICU, while two children who tested positive for measles are admitted.

He confirmed that no child deaths have been reported at CMCH in the last 48 hours.

Earlier, two children from Cox's Bazar district died while undergoing treatment at CMCH, one of whom had tested positive for measles.

At present, affected children are receiving treatment at CMCH, Chattogram General Hospital, Chattogram Ma o Shishu Hospital, as well as various public and private hospitals.

Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) today reported that a total of 17 children have so far died from confirmed measles infections this year, while 113 children have died with suspected measles symptoms.