Two more children die of measles symptoms in Mymensingh

Two more children have died while receiving treatment at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital in the last 24 hours after showing symptoms of measles. With these deaths, the total number of children who have lost their lives due to measles at the hospital since March 17has risen to 22.

According to the latest information from hospital authorities, 63 patients are currently undergoing treatment with measles symptoms. In the last 24 hours, 24 new patients were admitted, while 28 have recovered and been discharged. One patient in critical condition has been referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for advanced care.

One of the deceased children was a 10-month-old baby from Kalmakanda upazila in Netrokona. The child was admitted on April 25 and died on the night of April 30. The second child was a five-month-old infant from Islampur upazila in Jamalpur, who died within a few hours of admission.

Doctors stated that both children died from pneumonia and subsequent heart failure as complications of suspected measles.

Hospital records show that a total of 996 patients with measles symptoms were admitted between March 17 and May 1 this year. Of them, 911 have recovered and returned home. However, the rising death toll has caused considerable concern among the public.

Mymensingh Medical College Hospital Assistant Director (Administration) Dr Mohammad Mainuddin Khan said that the majority of the 996 patients admitted over the last one and a half months have recovered. He explained that the two children who died in the last 24 hours had developed pneumonia as a complication of measles, which later led to heart failure.

Dr Khan emphasised the importance of timely vaccination of children against measles and urged parents to bring their children to the hospital immediately if they show any signs of illness.