11 kids suffer from measles
Measles has broken out at Tripura Palli in Patachhara under Fatikchhari upazila, leaving 11 children infected.
However, doctors said the situation is under control as the patients are out of danger.
The children were admitted to the upazila health complex earlier this week.
Among them, two under five years of age were in critical condition, said Joynal Abedin Muhuri, a paediatrician at the hospital.
The doctor said all the children fell sick just in a span of a day, which eventually spread panic across the community.
“The situation is normal at the community and the patients are now out of danger. We are waiting for their prescribed medications to be completed,” said Joynal, adding that no such patient was admitted to the hospital till yesterday.
Doctors blamed superstition of the parents for such an epidemic as they were not interested in giving vaccination to their children in spite of conducting public awareness campaigns in the community.
Dr Elias Chowdhury, upazila health and family planning officer, said none of the 11 children were vaccinated before.
“After receiving vaccine, a child suffers from fever for a few days. Since then, the elders of the community refrain them from vaccinating the babies,” he said.
After measles broke out, doctors and officials of the hospital went to the community and vaccinated a total of 66 children under 18 months of age till Monday.
“We counselled the parents several times but they don’t have any trust in modern allopathic treatment. Many non-governmental organisations also work there for raising awareness but it is no easy to free them from their superstitions,” said Elias.
In August 2018, four children died and 22 others suffered from measles at Tripura Palli in Hathazari upazila of Chattogram.
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