A rise in measles and measles-like infections in several districts is putting pressure on hospitals and prompting the government to step up vaccination and treatment, as child deaths continue to be reported.
Our Rajshahi correspondent reports that two children undergoing treatment for measles-like symptoms died within 24 hours between Monday afternoon and Tuesday afternoon at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH), hospital officials said.
With the latest deaths, the total number of fatalities with similar symptoms at RMCH has risen to three.
Dr Shankar Kumar Biswas, in-charge of the emergency department, said 98 children were currently admitted with suspected measles symptoms, including 16 new cases in the past 24 hours.
Samples collected from patients are being tested by the World Health Organization (WHO), and measles has so far been confirmed in 35 cases.
Hospital sources said many patients were coming from surrounding districts, including Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi, Kushtia, Naogaon, Natore, Pabna and Meherpur.
Common symptoms include fever, rash, respiratory distress and eye infections, while severe cases with breathing difficulties require intensive care support.
Dr Biswas said that around 65 per cent of affected children are under six months old -- a particularly vulnerable group, as routine measles vaccination is usually administered at nine months.
In response, the government has decided to introduce measles vaccination from six months, he said, adding that the hospital has set up isolation wards and designated isolation corners to contain the spread.
Prof Dr Shahida Yasmin, head of the paediatrics department at RMCH, said that of the 30 children who died this year with measles-like symptoms, 29 were not confirmed measles cases, suggesting other complications also contributed to the fatalities.
Health Services Division Secretary Kamruzzaman Chowdhury, who visited RMCH on Tuesday, said the government had taken a comprehensive action plan to contain the outbreak.
He said routine immunisation programmes had been disrupted during the Covid-19 pandemic, leaving many children without timely vaccination.
The government has allocated Tk 6.04 billion to procure 10 types of vaccines, including measles vaccines, with payment already made to UNICEF, he added. A nationwide special immunisation campaign will be launched once the vaccines arrive.
The response plan also includes expanding vaccination coverage, increasing hospital capacity, strengthening isolation facilities and addressing workforce shortages.
Officials said the 1,200-bed RMCH is currently treating more than 3,000 patients, severely disrupting service delivery.
To ease the pressure, authorities have begun transferring non-measles critical patients to nearby hospitals, increasing bed capacity and ensuring the supply of essential medical equipment.
In Shariatpur, our correspondent reports that measles cases have been rising steadily over the past two weeks.
Health department sources said 15 out of 25 tested samples returned positive, while two children later died after being referred to Dhaka for advanced treatment.
Currently, three patients, including one child and two youths, are undergoing treatment at the district sadar hospital.
Our Chattogram correspondent reports that a five-and-a-half-month-old infant died of suspected measles while undergoing treatment at Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) on Tuesday.
Chattogram Civil Surgeon Dr Mohammed Jahangir Alam confirmed the death.
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