Bangladesh orders special measles treatment measures, doctors to do two rounds a day

Authorities instruct hospitals to maintain isolation wards, enhance staffing, and update patient data

All public healthcare facilities in Bangladesh have been told to ensure proper measles treatment under new directives that include mandatory twice-daily doctor rounds.

On Tuesday, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) asked all government health institutions to follow the new measures.

Under the directives, all public health facilities must designate separate wards or cabins for patients infected with measles or showing related symptoms.

Patients arriving with measles or its symptoms must be treated and admitted where necessary.

Measles isolation wards must be staffed with adequate doctors and health workers at all times.

Specialist doctors are required to conduct rounds twice daily, morning and evening, including holidays.

Each admitted patient may be accompanied by no more than one guardian or visitor at a time.

Patient data must be uploaded to the MIS server daily.

Those in need of emergency assistance can contact the hotline at 01759114488.

Since Mar 15, 75 people have died from confirmed measles nationwide, with a further 389 dying with symptoms of the disease.