Three more children, showing symptoms consistent with measles, died at the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) in the past 24 hours till Saturday noon, raising the death toll at the hospital to 38 this year.

Hospital Spokesperson Dr Shankar K Biswas said the children, aged between five and seven, died while receiving treatment at the hospital.

During the same period, 25 new patients were admitted with measles-like symptoms, while three were discharged after recovery, he said.

A total of 149 patients, including four adults, with such symptoms are currently undergoing treatment at the hospital.

So far, 377 patients have been admitted with measles-like symptoms and 38 of them have died.

Meanwhile, Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) Administrator Mahfuzur Rahman Riton and Deputy Commissioner of the district Kazi Shahidul Islam visited the hospital’s paediatric ward and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on Saturday to assess the situation and treatment facilities.

Speaking on the occasion, Riton said the government is committed to ensuring proper treatment for measles patients and increasing ICU capacity.

He added that the city corporation is also extending support in various ways.

The RCC administrator said regular vaccination drives are ongoing across all 30 wards of the city corporation, with 8,000 doses of measles vaccine currently in stock. Vaccination will be conducted at 64 centres starting on Sunday.