Medical negligence reported as Kushtia sees another suspected measles death

The death toll in the district has surged to seven in four days, the civil surgeon says

Relatives have complained of medical negligence after the death of another child showing measles symptoms at Kushtia Medical College Hospital (KUMCH).

The child passed away on Monday, taking the death toll to seven in the district in four days, said Civil Surgeon Shaikh Md Kamal Hossain.

Four of the deaths occurred at the KUMCH, one at Kushtia General Hospital and two died after going to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital from Sadar Upazila Health Complex, said Kamal.

All seven of them were hospitalised with measles symptoms between Friday and Sunday, he added.

Six-month-old Md Raihan, son of Sohagh Gazi from Sadar Upazila, is the latest patient to die.

Sohagh said his son had been suffering for two days due to fever and cold.

On Sunday, his body suddenly turned red and he started to have breathing complications.

The child was subsequently admitted to the KUMCH.

Sohag alleged, "The nurses were taking care of my son in the hospital's Paediatric Ward. But despite our repeated approaches, not a single doctor responded.

“I can’t explain how my son was suffering.”

“No doctor came even though my son died struggling. I brought him alive to the hospital and am returning with his body." he added.

Sharifa Begum, a nurse at the Pneumonia Ward, said the child was brought in a very critical condition.

“It was advised to take him to Dhaka for advanced treatment. But the family could not move somehow, causing the child to die."

Officials said 347 children were admitted to the KUMCH, Kushtia General Hospital, and six Upazila health complexes with colds, fevers and coughs in the last 10 days.

So far, 172 have been discharged.

In addition, 29 children have been newly admitted in the last 24 hours.