4 children die with measles symptoms; cases surge across country
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 676 measles cases have been recorded this year, although it has no official record of deaths
Four children have died with symptoms of measles in different parts of the country, including two in Rajshahi, one in Dhaka and one in Chattogram, today (31 March).
At the Infectious Diseases Hospital in the capital, Acting Superintendent Dr Tanzina Jahan said one child died with measles symptoms today. "Earlier, 22 children died at this hospital with measles and its symptoms," she added.
Meanwhile, Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) authorities said three children have died in total with confirmed measles and related complications, while currently, 98 others are admitted with measles.
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Speaking about the outbreak in Rajshahi, Health Secretary Kamruzzaman Chowdhury said recent movement by healthcare workers disrupted routine immunisation, leaving many children unvaccinated and potentially contributing to the surge in infections.
To tackle the situation, the government has approved Tk604 crore for vaccine procurement and plans to intensify immunisation drives soon, he added.
In Chattogram, a child under six months of age died at Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) this morning while undergoing treatment after being brought in critical condition from Cox's Bazar the previous night.
Confirming the incident, CMCH Director Brig Gen Mohammad Taslim Uddin said the infant died after being admitted in a critical condition.
Hospital data show that 32 children with symptoms of measles and pneumonia are currently undergoing treatment at CMCH. Among them, two are in critical condition and are being treated in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), while others are kept in isolation in Ward No 9 of the paediatric department.
Chattogram Civil Surgeon Dr Mohammad Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said samples from affected children have been collected and sent to Dhaka for testing through the World Health Organization (WHO).
He added that 50 samples have been collected from 41 cases in the metropolitan area and 15 upazila across the district. So far, measles has been confirmed in eight individuals in Chattogram.
Of them, six are receiving treatment in the city, while one each is being treated at Maa-O-Shishu Hospital and Chattogram General Hospital.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 676 measles cases have been recorded this year, although it has no official record of deaths.
However, unofficial data – compiled from various hospitals – suggest that at least 37 children have died from measles and its symptoms so far.
Among them, 23 deaths were reported at the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Mohakhali, nine at Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute, five at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, two in Shariatpur, four in Chapainawabganj, three at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, and one each in Pabna and Gopalganj.
