Three more children die from measles at RMCH

Four children suffering from measles were recommended for admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital last Thursday, but three of them have died. The surviving child, Jannatul Mawa, was admitted to the ICU on Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, three more children have been recommended for ICU admission.

A total of 12 children have died at Rajshahi Medical College this month after contracting measles. Among them, nine died despite being admitted to the ICU. Detailed information on infected children in general wards is yet to be obtained.

With assistance from the World Health Organisation, samples from 153 patients in Rajshahi division were tested on March 18, with 44 testing positive for measles. The infection rate was approximately 29 per cent, with the highest rates in Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi and Pabna.

The office of the Rajshahi Divisional Health Director said this highly contagious disease has spread rapidly in the Rajshahi region. Between March 1 and Thursday, 84 children with measles were recommended for ICU admission. Among them, nine died in the ICU and three died while awaiting ICU admission.

In Pabna, 26 children were undergoing treatment in the 'measles ward' as of this morning, though no deaths have been reported. Four children have died in Chapainawabganj over the last three months; 70 children were admitted to hospital there this morning.

Rajshahi Medical College spokesperson Shankar K Biswas said a separate ward could not be established due to a lack of necessary personnel to isolate infectious diseases. However, isolation corners have been set up in Wards 24 and 10.

Divisional Health Director Habibur Rahman said the situation in Pabna and Chapainawabganj is extremely critical. Affected children are being treated in separate wards. He will provide details on deaths in these districts on Sunday.