A four-month-old infant has died after exhibiting symptoms of measles at Faridpur Medical College Hospital, bringing the district's death toll from the suspected outbreak to 17.
The deceased, identified as Rafsana, was the daughter of Rubel Hossain from the Alipur area of Faridpur Sadar Upazila. Hospital sources confirmed that she passed away while undergoing treatment in the isolation ward.
According to the Faridpur District Civil Surgeon's Office, 45 new patients presenting with measles symptoms were admitted to various hospitals across the district within the last 24 hours. Concurrently, 93 patients recovered and were discharged. Currently, 138 patients remain hospitalised under close medical supervision.
In response to the rising case count, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has intensified public awareness campaigns across the district to curb transmission. Health officials are strictly advising parents to ensure their children receive routine immunization shots and to seek immediate care at the nearest health complex if any symptoms surface.
Faridpur Civil Surgeon Dr. Mahmudul Hasan emphasized the critical role of immunization in managing the situation.
"Measles is a highly preventable disease. Timely vaccination reduces health risks significantly. We are mobilizing all available medical resources to treat patients and bring the localized outbreak under control," he stated.
Hospital records show that the outbreak gained severity shortly after Eid, when the first two casualty cases involving children with measles-like symptoms were recorded at the medical college hospital.
