The death toll of children infected with measles and measles-like symptoms continues to rise in Sylhet, where three more children died within five hours on Thursday night. With the latest fatalities, the number of child deaths linked to measles and its symptoms in Sylhet division has climbed to 23.
Amid the worsening situation, an additional pediatric unit is being opened at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital.
Hospital Director Brigadier General Umar Munir Rashid said Ward No 32 at Osmani Hospital has been dedicated to measles treatment since Saturday.
“At present, Shaheed Dr Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital has been designated as a dedicated hospital for measles patients. The hospital has a capacity of 100 beds, but it is now overcrowded with patients admitted beyond capacity,” he said.
He added that the new unit is being launched following a sharp rise in measles cases in Sylhet and growing demands for another dedicated treatment facility.
Critically ill patients are currently being treated at both Osmani Hospital and Shaheed Dr. Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital, he added.
The three children who died on Thursday night were identified as eight-month-old Mahdi Hasan, son of Abdul Mumin and Sumi Begum of Akhalia Surma Residential Area in Sylhet city; six-month-old Mustakin, son of Sunu Mia from Asampur village in South Sunamganj; and seven-month-old Zara from Bishwambarpur upazila of Sunamganj, who died at around 11:00 pm.
Hospital sources said Mahdi Hasan was admitted to PICU-1 at around 4:45 pm on Tuesday after developing measles symptoms. He died at 7:00 pm on Thursday while undergoing treatment.
Mustakin had been admitted to the hospital on May 3 at around 2:00 pm and died at approximately 6:00 pm on Thursday during treatment. Zara died later that night at around 11:00 pm.
Earlier on Thursday morning, another child named Sajibul Islam, aged one, died while undergoing treatment at Shaheed Dr Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital. He was the son of Jahidul Islam from Pithaikur village in Fenchuganj upazila of Sylhet.
With his death, the total number of deaths from measles and measles-like symptoms in Sylhet has reached 23.
Assistant Health Director of Sylhet division Dr Nur-e-Alam Shamim said a total of 233 suspected measles patients are currently receiving treatment at different hospitals across the division.
Of them, the highest number, 92 patients, are admitted to Shaheed Dr Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital. In the last 24 hours alone, 66 new suspected measles patients were admitted to hospitals.
Meanwhile, physician Dr Hedayet Hossain Sarwar urged parents to vaccinate children against measles.
In a Facebook post, he wrote: “So far, 23 children have died of measles in Sylhet, most of them at the measles PICU of Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital. Watching these children struggle to breathe due to measles, pneumonia and other complications is extremely painful. Doctors and nurses work tirelessly to save them, often with tears in their eyes.”
He said none of the affected children had received the measles vaccine.
“Bangladesh is now paying the price for low measles vaccination coverage over the past two years. The number of measles patients is increasing rapidly. At this moment, vaccination is the only effective way to prevent further spread,” he said.
He added that vaccination campaigns will continue across the country until May 10, while in Sylhet City Corporation the campaign will continue until May 20.
“Any child who has not received a measles vaccine within the past 28 days should be vaccinated immediately. Even children who previously received one or two doses should be vaccinated again,” he added.