Three children died in Kushtia with symptoms of measles within 24 hours till Saturday morning.
The deceased were identified as eight-month-old Ibrahim, son of Chanchal Hossain of Daulatpur upazila, Afran, son of Al Amin from Bhadalia village and five-month-old Aiza, daughter of Momin of Kushtia district town.
Among the deceased, Ibrahim, died around 10:30 pm on Friday at Kushtia 250-bed General Hospital, Aiza died around midnight at Kushtia Medical College Hospital and Afran died around 6 am on Saturday at the same hospital with similar symptoms, said Dr Hossain Imam, resident medical officer (RMO) of Kushtia 250-bed General Hospital.
Deputy Director of Kushtia Medical College Hospital Dr AHM Anwarul Islam said the number of patients with measles symptoms keeps rising across the district.
Besides, dedicated measles corners have been set up in hospitals including Kushtia Medical College Hospital, he added.
However, due to the increasing number of cases many children are being treated in general wards, leading to a shortage of beds.
According to the Civil Surgeon’s Office, more than 300 children have been admitted to different hospitals in the district with measles symptoms of which at least 75 have recovered.
Civil Surgeon Sheikh Mohammad Kamal Hossain said a shortage of vaccines, lack of awareness and movement of people from other districts are contributing to the spread of the disease.
Meanwhile, isolation corners have been opened in all hospitals in the district for infected children and vaccination drives will begin as soon as vaccines become available, he added.
Authorities have urged parents to remain cautious and seek medical attention promptly if children show symptoms.
FP/MI
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