STAFF CORRESPONDENT

At least four more children have died from suspected measles and related complications in the last 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 44 so far this year.

Two children died in suspected measles cases at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) in the last 24 hours, taking the hospital’s tally of fatalities from the highly contagious infection so far this year to three, said its spokesman Shankar K Biswas.

As of yesterday, 98 suspected measles patients are admitted to the hospital, he added.

However, several media outlets, including Prothom Alo, reported that 12 measles patients died at RMCH until Sunday. At that time, RMCH admitted one death only.

If this number is taken into consideration, the total number of deaths from measles would be 55.

One child died at Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) in the capital’s Mohakhali in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll from suspected measles cases at this medical facility to 25, said its superintendent Tanzina Jahan.

A total of 617 suspected measles patients have been treated at the hospital since January.

A five-and-a-half-month-old infant, admitted with symptoms of measles, died while undergoing treatment at Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) yesterday.

The victim, identified as Aisha Siddika from Jhilong in Cox’s Bazar, was brought to the CMCH late Monday night. Due to her critical condition, she was shifted to the intensive care unit, where she passed away yesterday morning.

Chattogram Civil Surgeon Mohammed Jahangir Alam confirmed the death, stating that although the child exhibited classic symptoms of measles, the cause of death is yet to be “officially confirmed”.

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