TUHIN SHUBHRA ADHIKARY

At least 38 children have died of measles and related complications this year as the infectious disease is spreading in the capital and several other districts.

Of the deaths, 32 occurred this month -- 21 of them at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in the capital’s Mohakhali, including three yesterday, as the facility struggles with a surge of patients arriving from across the country.

Six children died at Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute, five died at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH), four victims were from Chapainawabganj, and one died at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH), officials said.

Several media outlets, including Prothom Alo, reported that 12 measles patients died at RMCH.

Meanwhile, two patients from Pabna died in Dhaka last month, including one at Shishu Hospital and one at Padma General Hospital, said the Civil Surgeon Office, Pabna.

If the numbers are included, the total number of deaths this year would rise to 46. The number could be even higher as the health authorities do not have comprehensive data on measles-related deaths.

Doctors and health officials said the number of measles patients started to rise from December last year but increased sharply this month. Apart from Dhaka, a growing number of cases have been reported in Mymensingh, Chapainawabganj, Pabna, Natore and Rajshahi.

As most of the admitted measles patients were found to be unvaccinated, experts and health officials blamed gaps in immunisation, particularly

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