Child dies with measles symptoms in Rajshahi, doctors in a quandary

A 10-year-old child has died with measles symptoms at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

Deceased Fahima hailed from Rupnagar village of Shibganj upazila in Chapainawabganj.

Shahida Yasmin, head of the hospital's pediatric department, said that no confirmed information was received from the family whether Fahima was vaccinated against measles. Another nine-year-old child from the same upazila was also admitted to the hospital with measles symptoms; he had taken the first dose of measles vaccine, but not the second dose.

Shahida Yasmin said, "Most of the children aged six to 10 who are admitted to the hospital have not been vaccinated against measles or have not taken the full dose. However, it is not yet certain whether anyone has been infected even after taking two doses. Research is underway on the matter."

According to the National Immunization Programme, children are given two doses at the age of six months and 15 months. But in this outbreak, children under the age of six months and above the age of six years are also showing measles symptoms. This requires more in-depth research.

Rajshahi Division Health Director Md. Habibur Rahman said that in this outbreak, along with children, a small number of adult patients have also been identified. Efforts are being made to determine the nature of measles through ongoing research.

As of Thursday afternoon, 132 patients were admitted to Rajshahi Medical College.

Shankar Kumar Biswas, spokesperson for the hospital. He said that 20 new patients were admitted in the last 24 hours, one died, and four recovered and returned home. The number of patients admitted to the hospital since March is 340.

He also said that it takes time to get the results of a confirmed measles test, so for now all patients are being treated as 'suspected'.