Measles: 6 more children die; death toll climbs to 1063

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

With these, the total number of suspected measles deaths has reached 962, while confirmed deaths from measles have remained the same at 101, it said.

A total of 1,221 new suspected measles cases were reported during the 24-hour period, bringing the cumulative number of suspected cases nationwide to 181,035.

Meanwhile, 84 new confirmed measles cases were recorded, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 20,646.

Since March 15 this year, a total of 159,804 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country, of whom 153,448 have recovered, according to DGHS data.

Another special nationwide measles vaccination campaign targeting 34 lakh children aged six months to 59 months will begin on September 26 and continue until October 31, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain said on Sunday.

The minister made the announcement at a press conference at Secretariat.

He said a measles vaccination campaign was conducted nationwide from April until May 20 with support from UNICEF, Gavi and the World Health Organisation, achieving 102-104 percent of the target of vaccinating 1.8 crore children.

A subsequent vitamin A campaign which covered 2.23 crore children, found that around 43 lakh children missed in the previous measles campaign, reports UNB.

Another 10 lakh children who turned six months old over the past three months have since become eligible, bringing the target for the new campaign to 34 lakh, said the minister.