Measles outbreak: One more child dies, toll at 12

Mumbai: Measles claimed another life on Nov 22. An eight-month-old child from Bhiwandi succumbed to the infection at Kasturba Hospital. The child was partially vaccinated and had developed a maculopapular rash all over the body. With this, the number of deaths have risen to 12, of which 11 are confirmed and one is still suspected.

A doctor said, “The child was admitted at 6.57pm and intubated due to respiratory distress. He couldn’t be revived despite several measures and was declared dead at 9.15pm. However, the cause of death will be ascertained after post-mortem.”

The total number of confirmed measles cases across Mumbai has increased to 233. During a special BMC screening programme, 3,534 children with fever and rashes were identified in the city. 

A health official said, “Thirty patients were admitted to the hospital on Nov 23, of which 22 were discharged after treatment. All cases of fever with rash are administered two doses of Vit-A; the second dose being administered after 24 hours. Two patients are still on the ventilator.”

Co-director of Infectious Diseases Dr Vasant Nagvekar said that the risk of contracting measles goes up 90% in unvaccinated persons. He said Mumbai has witnessed an unprecedented rise this year even among young adults and pregnant women. “The illness typically begins with a high-grade fever (which may spike to over 104 degrees), cough and runny nose, and the rash begins on the face and spreads to the whole body. Complications include diarrhoea, ear infections and pneumonia,” he said.