Measles-like deaths rise to 938

Five more children died with measles-like symptoms in Bangladesh in the 24 hours to 8:00am on Monday, taking the combined tally of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 938 this year, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

The DGHS classified all five latest fatalities as suspected measles deaths, raising the number of suspected measles deaths to 839.

The number of confirmed measles deaths remained unchanged at 99, according to the latest DGHS data.

The outbreak also continued to generate new suspected cases, with 1,149 reported in the 24-hour period. The nationwide cumulative number of suspected measles cases has now reached 150,652.
Meanwhile, health authorities recorded 83 new confirmed measles cases during the same period, taking the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 18,487.

The figures highlight the continued spread of measles-like illness across the country, with suspected cases substantially outnumbering laboratory-confirmed infections.

Since March 15 this year, 131,664 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country, according to DGHS data.

Of them, 126,921 patients have recovered.

The latest figures cover the 24-hour period up to 8:00am on Monday and include both suspected and laboratory-confirmed measles cases and deaths.