Measles: Death toll rises to 1,044 as 8 more die

Eight more children died with measles-like symptoms in the 24 hours until 8:00am on Wednesday, bringing the country’s combined tally of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 1,044 this year.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has classified all eight latest fatalities as suspected measles deaths.

With these, the total number of suspected measles deaths has reached 944, while confirmed deaths from measles have remained the same at 100.

A total of 1,239 new suspected measles cases were reported during the 24-hour period, bringing the cumulative number of suspected cases nationwide to175,198.

Meanwhile, 81 new confirmed measles cases were recorded, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 20,282, reports UNB.

Since March 15 this year, a total of 154,420 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country, of whom 148,465 have recovered, according to DGHS data.