The outbreak of measles is increasing in Bogra with another 10-month-old child reported dead while undergoing treatment at Bogra Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College (SZMCH) Hospital’s isolation ward on Saturday night.
Hospital Deputy Director Dr Manjur-e-Murshed confirmed the death on Sunday afternoon. The deceased, Rayyan, son of Atiqul Islam from Betgari area in Shajahanpur upazila, was admitted on April 17 with measles symptoms.
According to hospital authorities, the child had several pre-existing health complications including cerebral palsy, bronchopneumonia and anemia. He was later shifted to the measles isolation ward after developing fever and rash. However, he died during treatment. Officials said laboratory confirmation of measles infection is still pending, so the death cannot yet be officially classified as measles-related.
Earlier, another 10-month-old child, Humaira, also died in the same isolation ward with similar symptoms. Her case also remains unconfirmed as measles due to lack of sample collection.
So far, two children with suspected measles symptoms have died at SZMCH Hospital. A separate case has been confirmed as measles through laboratory testing earlier in March.
Hospital sources say a 50-bed special isolation ward has been set up to manage the outbreak. Since March 29, a total of 185 children have been admitted with measles-like symptoms. At present, 38 patients are still receiving treatment.
Out of 123 samples sent to Dhaka for testing, only four have been confirmed as measles positive.
Dr Murshed also noted that the hospital currently lacks pediatric ICU and NICU facilities for critically ill children and has requested urgent support from the Health Ministry to establish them.
In the past 24 hours alone, 11 new patients with measles symptoms have been admitted across Bogra district. Health officials report that 47 patients are currently under treatment in various facilities, including SZMCH Hospital, Mohammad Ali Hospital, and private medical centers.
