Around 90% of patients admitted to the measles ward at Khulna Medical College & Hospital- (KMCH) did not receive measles vaccinations on schedule, according to doctors at the hospital.
Physicians said symptoms of the disease appeared in many children after they missed vaccinations scheduled at 9 and 15 months of age. Despite the growing number of cases, doctors said the recovery rate remains high and treatment is continuing.
Family members of several patients said their children could not receive vaccines at the scheduled time because they were ill.
On Monday, 38 patients were undergoing treatment in the measles ward on the fourth floor of the hospital. The ward and adjoining veranda were overcrowded with patients and attendants. Since each child was accompanied by three to four relatives, movement inside the ward became difficult for doctors, nurses and support staff.
Hospital staff said the congestion was hampering medical services, including the movement of mobile X-ray machines. Patients were seen occupying beds, floors and corridors, leaving almost no space to walk.
Labanya, a resident of Dumuria, brought her three-and-a-half-month-old son Joy to the hospital after he developed measles following four days of fever.
“The doctors examined him and started treatment immediately. He has stopped crying now,” she said.
Sathi, who came from Terokhada with her one-and-a-half-year-old daughter Maryam, said the child received the measles vaccine at nine months but missed the second dose scheduled at 15 months.
Reshma, mother of nine-month-old Safowan from Terokhada, said her child developed measles after suffering from fever for a week.
Another guardian, Eidni Bakken from Kalia, said her nine-month-old child recovered after three days of treatment at the hospital.
Senior staff nurses said 38 patients had been admitted to the ward as of 11 am on Monday.
Dr Syeda Roksana Parveen, who was on duty in the ward, said around 90 per cent admitted patients had not received vaccines within the recommended schedule.
“We are trying our best to provide treatment. We are also advising families to complete vaccination after recovery,” she said.
Khulna Divisional Health Director Dr Md Mujibur Rahman the measles vaccination target had officially achieved full coverage and routine vaccination activities were continuing. Sick children, however, are vaccinated only after recovery.
According to divisional health authorities, 118 confirmed measles cases were detected across 10 districts of the Khulna division between March 15 and May 19. During the same period, 4,329 suspected cases were reported.
Among them, 3,912 patients were admitted to hospitals, while 3,506 recovered after treatment. A total of 21 deaths were reported, including 12 in Kushtia, five in Khulna, two in Jhenaidah, and one each in Chuadanga and Meherpur.
