Measles: 2 more children die as death toll crosses 40 at Mymensingh Medical

Two more children with measles symptoms have died at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH), taking the death toll at the hospital from measles or measles-like symptoms to 41.

In a statement sent from the hospital on Saturday morning, MMCH Senior Store Officer Jhantu Sarkar, said that the dead were four months and three-and-a-half months old.

The four-month-old child was a resident of Purba Jhinarai village in Kishoreganj. He was admitted to the hospital on May 22 and died while undergoing treatment on Friday morning.

The other child hailed from Akua in Mymensingh Nagar, was admitted to the hospital on May 25 with measles symptoms and died on Friday morning.

The statement further said that a total of 1,708 children with measles symptoms have been admitted to the hospital from Mar 17 to Saturday morning. Of these, 1,549 children have recovered and returned home.

In the 24 hours commencing on Friday morning, 38 children with measles symptoms have been admitted. There are currently 116 children admitted to the measles isolation ward. During this period, no children have recovered and returned home.

The focal person of the measles isolation ward, Associate Professor Md Golam Mawla, said: "Since measles is contagious, the number of infected patients is not decreasing easily. However, as measles vaccination has started its work in children's bodies, their immunity is increasing. Gradually, the number of infected patients will also drop."