Three children died with measles-like symptoms in the 24 hours until 8am on Friday, taking the combined number of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths in the country to 1,147 this year.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) classified all three latest deaths as suspected measles fatalities, with no confirmed deaths reported during the period.

The number of suspected measles deaths has now reached 1,043, while confirmed deaths remain at 104.

The DGHS reported 1,268 new suspected measles cases during the 24-hour period, bringing the cumulative number nationwide to 202,893.

Meanwhile, 81 new laboratory-confirmed cases were recorded, taking the total number of confirmed infections to 22,197.

Since 15 March this year, a total of 180,079 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country. Of them, 172,705 have recovered, according to the DGHS.