280 hospitalised with measles symptoms at Rajshahi Medical as cases continue to rise

A total of 280 patients have been admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) with measles symptoms since January, including 50 new admissions within a single day, as the infection continues to spread in the region.

According to RMCH sources, as of 10am today (30 March), 35 patients are undergoing treatment in designated measles corners and general paediatric wards after testing positive.

According to the Rajshahi Divisional Health Director's office, at least 500 people in the division are suspected to have measles.

Of the 424 collected samples, 411 have been tested, and 137 have confirmed positive.

So far, three deaths have been reported in the division – two in Pabna and one in the Rajshahi City Corporation area.

Rajshahi Divisional Director (Health) Dr Habibur Rahman said the infection has spread across the region, particularly in Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, and Pabna. He said steps would be taken to strengthen treatment and vaccination efforts.

Meanwhile, BNP Health Affairs Secretary Dr Rafiqul Islam visited RMCH this morning and inspected the paediatric ward. He also held a meeting with departmental heads at the hospital regarding the situation.

"Measles spread because vaccinations could not be administered due to complications regarding vaccine procurement during the tenure of the interim government. At the same time, those who distribute the vaccines are on strike. Consequently, the spread has increased across the country," he told journalists.

Notably, one confirmed measles patient has died at the hospital. In addition, 29 people with symptoms have died over the past three months, although their infections could not be confirmed due to a lack of testing.

Professor Dr Sahida Yasmin, head of the RMCH paediatric ward, said many of those who died with symptoms were not identified through laboratory tests.

Hospital officials said patient numbers have exceeded capacity, with nearly three times more patients than the ward can accommodate.

Due to overcrowding in the isolation ward, measles patients are also being treated in the general paediatric ward, and in some cases, multiple patients are sharing beds.

Many of the affected children are either unvaccinated or below the eligible age for vaccination.

Parents said in some areas, vaccines were not administered, while others missed scheduled doses due to various reasons.

At the hospital, families continue to struggle with prolonged treatment. Three-month-old Redwan from Debinagar in Chapainawabganj has been undergoing treatment for 15 days after contracting measles.

His mother, Sahida, said the child was admitted with rashes and later tested positive.

"We have been hospitalised for 15 days now. He is not getting well. In the meantime, he was also admitted to the ICU once," she said.