Infant with measles symptoms dies at Mymensingh Medical

A child with symptoms of measles has died at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH).

The 3-month-old died around 1:45pm on Saturday afternoon, according to Assistant Professor Golam Mowla of the Children’s Ward.

The boy hailed from Kishoreganj’s Sadar Upazila and had been admitted on Apr 9 with symptoms of measles.

Fourteen children with the highly-contagious disease or with symptoms pointing to it have died at Mymensingh Medical since the outbreak began.

A total of 34 new patients with measles-like symptoms have been admitted to the hospital in the 24 hours from Saturday to Sunday morning, the hospital administration says. Currently, 78 children are admitted to the Isolation Ward, while 72 others have been discharged after treatment.

As many as 611 children with measles-like symptoms have been admitted to the hospital from Mar 17 to Sunday. Of them, 519 have been released after treatment.

The faces of the families at the Isolation Ward on the eighth floor of the hospital’s new building were grim with worry and despair.

Sharmin Chowdhury, whose 4-month-old child has been admitted, said: “After treating my son for his clogged nose and fever, the doctors said he had measles. That is why we have been at the hospital for the past week. I have seen many mothers lose their children, so I can’t stop worrying.”

Dr Mowla said, “As measles is highly contagious, it is spreading. Parents must remain alert to protect their children from it. They must get the measles vaccine at the appropriate time. We are trying to provide the best care we can with our limited manpower.”