Two more child deaths bring measles toll in Mymensingh hospital to 39

Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH) has logged two more child fatalities from measles symptoms, bringing the total number of deaths linked to the disease at the facility to 39.

Within a 24-hour period leading up to Tuesday morning, two infants aged six months and 10 months died while undergoing treatment, the hospital’s Senior Store Officer Jhontu Sarkar said.

The 6-month-old, a resident of Dapunia village in Mymensingh Sadar Upazila, was admitted with measles symptoms on May 19 and passed away on Monday evening.

The 10-month-old infant from Deothan village in Netrokona’s Mohanganj Upazila was hospitalised on May 20 and breathed their last on Tuesday morning.

Dr Jhontu said the number of infections has dropped over the last few days, adding that 16 children were admitted to the hospital with measles symptoms in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, 29 children returned home after recovery, while 62 patients remain under treatment in the measles isolation ward.

According to him, a total of 1,609 children with measles symptoms have been admitted to the hospital since Mar 17, with 1,508 of them making a full recovery and being discharged.

"Infections are dropping because vaccinated children have better immunity," Associate Professor Md Golam Mowla, the focal person for the measles isolation ward, said, noting that both active cases and hospital admissions are on the decline.

He added that family members must be more responsible to keep children safe.