Measles symptoms put 22 more in Magura hospital in a day; district total reaches 2,021

Measles cases keep rising in Magura. In 24 hours, 22 more patients with measles symptoms were admitted to the district Sadar Hospital.

Treatment for measles is also going on at Sadar and various upazila health centres. At present, 50 patients with measles symptoms are admitted to the hospital, taking the district's total number of patients admitted with measles symptoms to 2,021.

So far, however, no one in the district has died of measles.

The 22 patients admitted afresh on Monday (9 November) are being treated with close care in the isolation ward of the district Sadar Hospital.

Dr Mohsin Uddin Fakir, superintendent of Magura Sadar Hospital, said that although measles cases are rising, treatment is being given at various unions, wards and health centres to prevent an outbreak.

He added that, following government directives, the vaccination programme and the programme to feed children vitamin A capsules are continuing to prevent measles.

The 250-bed Magura hospital is the district's largest medical centre. This year, 36,602 people have received treatment there; 77,730 received emergency care, and 147,122 patients received outdoor treatment.

Every day, 300 to 400 patients are admitted to the hospital; about 500 patients receive emergency care daily and about 1,600 receive outdoor treatment; the hospital holds 500 to 600 patients each day.

But about half of the hospital is used by Magura Medical College, while treatment work in the new building is ongoing.

Because of the space crunch, beds cannot be given to everyone — many patients stay on verandas, some on the floor — and the superintendent acknowledged that patients suffer indescribably.

He said that until Magura Medical College moves to its own premises and the hospital building can be used fully for patients, proper treatment cannot be given. The problems, including the ramp and gate issues, have been reported to the higher authorities many times, and they have assured that the problems will be solved soon.