Measles symptoms claim 7 more lives

Seven more people died with measles-like symptoms in Bangladesh in the 24 hours to Friday, taking the combined death toll from confirmed measles infections and suspected cases to 1,214 since March 15.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 104 people have died from confirmed measles, while 1,110 others have died with measles-like symptoms during the period.

The DGHS disclosed the figures in its regular health bulletin on Friday (October 23).

During the 24 hours from 8AM on Thursday, three deaths from measles-like symptoms were reported in Sylhet division. Hospitals across the country admitted 1,135 new patients with measles and related symptoms.

Of the newly admitted patients, 558 were in Dhaka division, 194 in Chattogram, 115 in Barishal, 94 in Sylhet, 65 in Mymensingh, 60 in Khulna, 24 in Rangpur and 20 in Rajshahi.

Since March 15, a total of 194,633 patients with measles-like symptoms have been admitted to hospitals across the country, while 186,798 have been discharged after treatment.

The number of suspected measles cases reached 218,870, including 23,273 confirmed infections, according to the DGHS.