6-month-old dies with measles symptoms at Cumilla hospital

The district has recorded 11 deaths this year from confirmed or suspected cases

A 6-month-old infant has died at Cumilla Medical College Hospital while being treated for measles-like symptoms, bringing the district's measles-related death toll to 11 so far this year.

The girl, identified only as Simran, a resident of the Nurpur area of the city, passed away in the hospital's measles isolation unit around 7:30pm on Friday, Medical Officer Piyas Ahmed of the district Civil Surgeon's Office said on Sunday morning.

Of the 11 deaths, only one has been confirmed as measles. The rest have been classified as suspected cases, he said.

Mia Manzur Ahmed, head of the hospital's paediatrics department, said Simran had been admitted in critical condition around 6pm on Thursday with fever, breathing difficulty, measles symptoms and pneumonia.

She died the following evening after less than 24 hours of treatment.

Although measles symptoms were present, pneumonia was the immediate cause of death, he said.

Dr Manzur added that when children contract measles, their immune systems weaken progressively, leaving them vulnerable to secondary infections.

He urged parents to take any child showing fever, cough or a runny nose to the nearest Upazila health complex or government hospital without delay, and called on families to ensure children receive balanced, nutritious diets.