A seven-year-old child receiving treatment with measles-like symptoms at the 250-bed Noakhali General Hospital has died, marking the first reported death linked to the current outbreak at the hospital. The child, identified as মো. সামির, died at around 5:00am on Sunday while undergoing treatment in the hospital’s paediatric ward.
Samir was the son of Mofizul Haque from Char Katakhali village in Subarnachar upazila of Noakhali district. Hospital superintendent Dr Mohammad Farid Uddin Chowdhury confirmed the incident on Sunday morning, stating that the child’s condition had been critical since admission and that doctors had advised transferring him to Dhaka for intensive care support. However, the family was reportedly unable to afford the cost of transferring and treating the child in the capital.
According to relatives, Samir was admitted to the hospital at approximately 4:00pm on Saturday after developing symptoms consistent with measles. Family members said his condition had already deteriorated significantly by the time he arrived at the hospital. After examining the child, the attending physicians recommended urgent admission to an intensive care unit. As Noakhali General Hospital does not have a dedicated paediatric ICU facility, doctors advised the family to transfer him to a specialised hospital in Dhaka.
Despite continued treatment at the hospital, the child died early the following morning.
Hospital authorities said this was the first death among children admitted with measles-like symptoms since the recent rise in infections began. Since the beginning of April, nearly 950 children with suspected measles symptoms have received treatment at the hospital. Officials said 94 children are currently admitted to the paediatric ward with similar symptoms, including 40 new admissions within the last 24 hours alone.
Measles Situation at Noakhali General Hospital
বিষয়
তথ্য
Deceased child
মো. সামির (7)
Residence
Char Katakhali, Subarnachar
Date of admission
Saturday afternoon
Time of death
Around 5:00am Sunday
Total suspected measles cases since April
প্রায় 950
Current hospital admissions
94 children
New admissions in last 24 hours
40 children
Paediatric ICU availability
Not available
The sharp increase in patients has placed considerable strain on the district’s main public hospital. Authorities said shortages of beds, medicines, doctors, nurses and support staff have emerged as admissions continue to rise. The hospital’s service building has already been converted into a temporary isolation ward for children with measles-like symptoms, yet medical staff are reportedly struggling to cope with the growing pressure.
Parents of admitted children have also raised concerns over the cost of treatment. Several guardians alleged that many essential medicines are unavailable within the hospital and must be purchased from private pharmacies outside the facility. They also criticised the absence of paediatric intensive care services, saying critically ill children face uncertainty because they must be referred to Dhaka for advanced treatment.
Dr Mohammad Farid Uddin Chowdhury acknowledged the limitations, stating that while the hospital has ICU beds for adults, it lacks separate ICU facilities for children. As a result, critically ill children suffering from severe measles-related complications are routinely referred to specialised hospitals in the capital.
Health experts note that measles can become life-threatening in children suffering from malnutrition, respiratory complications or delayed treatment. Common complications include pneumonia, dehydration and encephalitis, particularly in areas where healthcare resources are limited. The recent rise in admissions in Noakhali has intensified concerns about the district’s preparedness to manage a wider outbreak if infections continue to increase.
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