Two children have died with measles-like symptoms at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) over a 24-hour period, while 16 more were admitted with similar symptoms, hospital authorities reported on Tuesday.
According to hospital spokesperson Shankar Kumar Biswas, the deaths occurred between 8am on Monday and 8am on Tuesday.
He added that a total of 98 children are currently receiving treatment at the hospital for measles-like symptoms.
Over the past two days, three children have died with similar symptoms.
Shahida Yasmin, head of the paediatrics department at RMCH, said most of the affected children are under six months old, accounting for nearly 70 percent of the cases, which she described as a serious concern.
“Infections among children over one year are relatively rare,” she said.
Rajshahi Civil Surgeon SIM Raziul Karim noted that measles has been confirmed in ten children across the district, while a larger number are showing symptoms.
Most of the affected children are aged six to nine months, but the measles vaccine is administered between 10 and 15 months, leaving many unvaccinated and vulnerable.
According to hospital data, 32 children have died with measles-like symptoms at RMCH so far this year.
Of these, only one child tested positive for measles, while the remaining 29 tested negative despite showing similar symptoms.
