Two children die of measles at RMCH in 24 hours

Two more children displaying symptoms of measles have died at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) within the last 24 hours.

The deaths occurred between 2pm on Monday and 2pm on Tuesday, according to hospital spokesperson Shankar Kumar Biswas.

He said that 98 children are currently undergoing treatment for measles symptoms at the hospital, 35 of whom have tested positive for the virus.

Sixteen new patients were admitted in the past 24 hours.

During the same period, 14 children died at the facility from different ailments, two of whom were confirmed to have been suffering from measles.

This brings the total number of confirmed measles fatalities at the hospital to three.

On Monday, Shahida Yeasmin, the hospital’s paediatric department head, said that one child had died from a confirmed measles infection and 29 others with symptoms of the disease earlier this month.

The highest number of children admitted with measles symptoms are from Chapainawabganj, where 47 children are currently being treated at RMCH.

Moreover, 26 children from Rajshahi, four each from Naogaon, Natore and Pabna, 12 from Kushtia, and one from Meherpur have been admitted with measles symptoms.

The World Health Organization is testing samples collected from children at the hospital.

Shankar said 65 per cent of children infected with measles are under six months old, which is concerning because children are normally vaccinated at nine months of age.

In response, the government has decided to bring the vaccination age forward to six months, he added.